Prince Harry made an emotional return to Botswana [1] on the fourth day of his Southern Africa tour [2] on Thursday. The 35-year-old royal assisted local schoolchildren [3] in planting trees at the Chobe Tree Reserve, and during his time there, he opened up to reporters about why Africa is so important to him [4]. "I came here in 1997, 1998 straight after my mom [Princess Diana] died, so it was a nice place to get away from it all," Harry explained. "But now I feel deeply connected to this place and to Africa." He also added that being on the continent gave him a "sense of escapism . . . a real sense of purpose."
Princess Diana died in a car accident [5] in August 1997 when Harry was just 12 years old [6]. In addition to her flawless beauty and incredible sense of style [7], Diana is best remembered for her charitable heart [8]. Just like Harry, she regularly visited hospitals, schools, and fundraising galas and also took trips to Africa, India, and Pakistan during which she touched many lives.
Botswana also likely holds a special place in Meghan Markle [9]'s heart, as she and Harry have previously spent time there [10] and Harry actually sourced the center stone of her engagement ring [11] from the country.
After Botswana, Harry made a solo trip to Angola [12], where he walked in his mom's shoes and visited a minefield. Diana famously visited the minefield back in 1997 with the Halo Trust, a charity that helps countries recover after conflict, with a focus on clearing landmines to save lives. "It's incredibly emotional to follow in the footsteps of my mother," Harry said in an Instagram video [13]. "If 20 years ago she hadn't done what she did, this would still be a minefield. To see this as a thriving community is amazing." Harry will also visit Malawi before reuniting with Meghan and his son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in Johannesburg to close out the 10-day tour.
