Prince Harry has announced he is to become the Patron of the HALO Trust's 25th Anniversary Appeal, the mine clearance charity his mother Princess Diana was heavily involved with."Prince Harry takes a keen and active interest in HALO's work and is delighted to support the charity in its 25th year." Said a spokesperson for St James's Palace.
HALO is a pioneering charity, founded in 1988, that is committed to humanitarian mine clearance around the world and famously saw Diana visit an Angolan minefield as part of her work for the Trust. Prince Harry, 28, has had a longstanding connection with the charity and visited minefields in Tete Province, Mozambique, in 2010. During the trip Harry he met amputees, and saw the devastating impact that landmines have on some of the poorest people in mine-affected communities.
The news is part of Harry's involvement with HALO comes as part of two new Royal Patronages. The royal's other new venture is with the Rugby Football Union’s All Schools Programme meaning he is now Patron or Vice Patron of a total of twelve charities. All Schools is an RFU initiative to get more secondary state schools playing rugby union. As Patron, Prince Harry will support the RFU in its ambition for 750 more schools to be self-sufficient rugby playing schools by the Rugby World Cup 2019 and to encourage new players to join local clubs. A statement on Harry's offcial website said "Further details on Prince Harry's involvement with the HALO Trust in its 25th Anniversary year and the RFU All Schools Programme will be announced in due course."