Prince Harry reveals Archie asked to see videos of ‘Grandma Diana’ walking through minefield ahead of Invictus Games

Prince Harry proudly told crowds how his five-year-old son Archie asked to see footage of ‘Grandma Diana’ walking through a minefield in Angola.

Speaking at The Invictus Games on Sunday, the Duke of Sussex, 40, said his eldest child recently expressed curiosity about landmines, prompting a heartfelt conversation about Diana’s legacy.

During an interview at a wheelchair basketball game in Vancouver, Harry told Canadian broadcaster CTV: ‘It’s hard because kids don’t always ask the right questions. There’s no filter.

‘You either shut it down right away, which I will never do, or you engage in the conversation and try to explain things.

‘Archie was asking about landmines so I was talking about how some of these guys [participating in the Invictus Games] were blown up’.

The father-of-two admitted he was initially unsure how to discuss the dangers of landmines with his young son but found himself recounting stories of those affected by them. 

He continued: ‘I think IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices] are probably a little much at this point, but I found myself talking to him about mines when he was five years old.’

However, what began as a discussion about landmines soon turned into a poignant moment of reflection on Princess Diana. 

Speaking to Canadian TV channel CTV News, Prince Harry revealed five-year-old Archie has asked to see footage of his ‘Grandma Diana’

Diana, Princess of Wales wearing protective body armour and a visor visits a landmine minefield being cleared by the charity Halo in Huambo, Angola

‘Interestingly, it gave me a chance to talk about my mum, his grandma, which I didn’t even really consider,’ Harry explained. 

‘He wanted to see videos and photographs of her out there doing her thing for landmines all those years ago. 

‘It produced a very interesting conversation, different from what I thought it would be.’

Diana’s visit to Angola in 1997 as a guest of the International Red Cross became one of the most powerful humanitarian images of the time. 

Donning protective gear, she famously walked through a minefield on the outskirts of Huambo, highlighting the devastating impact of landmines left behind after Angola’s brutal 20-year civil war.

Just months after her tragic death in August 1997, Diana’s work contributed to a landmark global ban on landmines.

Prince Harry, who has continued his mother’s legacy, retraced her footsteps during a visit to Angola in 2019. 

Wearing body armor and a protective visor, he walked the same path in Huambo where Diana had been photographed, now a thriving community free of landmines.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019 in Windsor, England

Prince Harry pictured walks through a minefield in Angola during a visit to see the work of landmine clearance charity the Halo Trust during a royal tour of Africa in 2019

Reflecting on that emotional moment, he said at the time: ‘It has been quite emotional retracing my mother’s steps… to see the transformation that has taken place, from an unsafe and desolate place into a vibrant community.’

Now, it seems Prince Harry is passing down that legacy to the next generation, ensuring that Archie understands the remarkable impact of the grandmother he never got to meet.

Harry has been joined by Meghan in Canada for the seventh edition of the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. 

Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess hosted an Invictus Games welcome party in Whistler – where Prince Harry joked his wife was going to serenade the crowds.

The Duke of Sussex thanked the crowd for showing their support before dragging his wife on stage to help open the three days of events at the luxury ski resort, having enjoyed some beers together first.

As the crowd cheered Meghan, stylish in a white full length coat and black top and beanie hat, stood next to her husband who cheekily said’ Now she’s going to sing!’

 Pictured: Prince Harry and Michael Buble shake hands onstage at the Whistler Welcome Celebration

Prince Harry gives the thumbs up as he and Meghan Markle attended the Whistler welcome party

As the crowd cheered, Meghan Markle, stylish in a white full length coat, black top and beanie hat, stood next to her husband who cheekily said: ‘Now she’s going to sing!’

Caught off guard, the Duchess shook her head laughing as the lively crowd whooped and clapped in a bid to persuade her to perform.

Moments earlier, Canadian pop star Buble had performed an impromptu version of his hit ‘Feeling Good’ after he was brought on to the stage to introduce Harry.

The Prince acknowledged the crowd, made up of those taking part in the games and holidaymakers, who were braving the freezing weather.

Prior to opening the games in the popular ski resort, he could be seen stamping his feet to keep warm as he and Meghan waited in a restaurant.

In his speech he gave a shout out to the Mayor of Whistler who he acknowledged was a ‘ginger’. Addressing the crowd Harry asked ‘Are there any other gingers in the house?’

The opening ceremony concluded with a low fly past by two Canadian Airforce F/18 fighter jets.

Harry and Meghan are spending three days in Whistler watching competitors taking part in adaptive winter sports, including the skeleton and alpine skiing.

The Sussexes braved sub-zero temperatures to meet the UK team taking part in the Skeleton event.

Wrapped up against temperatures of -11C, they chatted with the competitors and their families by the side of the track.

Meghan wore a £1,000 white Mackage coat, Hattack Beanie and Sorrel boots during her walkabout in Whistler. 

She knelt down to chat with brothers Benjamin and Sebastian Evans having recognised the pair from the 2023 Games held in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Duchess also gave their mother Rachel a warm hug and happily posed for photos with the boys and their father Mike who was a member of the UK skeleton team.

Skeleton is one of the winter sports staged in the Invictus Games. A competitor sliding sport rides a small sled, known as a skeleton, bobsled down a frozen track while lying face down.