Britain’s Prince Harry will begin his US tour with a trip to one of his late mother’s charities.
The 28-year-old prince arrives in Washington today (05.09.13) for a six-day American trip, and within hours of landing, he will meet members of Halo Trust, a landmine charity supported by Princess Diana – who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 – which he became patron of in March.
It had been stated prior to the trip that the army Apache helicopter pilot wanted to use the visit to highlight the plight of injured service personnel and several of his engagements reflect this.
Tomorrow (05.10.13), he will visit Arlington National Cemetery and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before moving on to the Walter Reed National Military Medical center, where he will be given a tour of the prosthetics and rehabilitation center for service personnel.
On Saturday (05.11.13), he will attend the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, an event for more than 200 wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women. He will watch the opening ceremony, a volleyball match and attend a brunch with members of the British team, who are competing in the championship for the first time.
His engagements on Sunday (05.12.13) mark the last of his military-related appointments, with a visit to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado to watch a cycling competition on the agenda.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Harry’s private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said: ”A recurring theme is to help recognize and place the spotlight on to the work being done to help these outstanding men and women.”