Statue of Princess Diana Unveiled on Her 60th Birthday

The statue of Princess Diana has been unveiled after several years in the making.

Commissioned by her sons, Prince William and Harry, in 2017 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her death, the statue was revealed today on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday.

The sculpture portrays Diana with short cropped hair, her hands delicately placed on the shoulders of two children, while another child stands behind her, partially visible from the side and back.

Although the three children remain unnamed, they hold a significant meaning.

Kensington Palace stated that the statue aims to capture Diana's warmth, elegance, and energy, while the children symbolize the universality and generational impact of her work.

The portrait and dress style are based on the final period of her life, reflecting her growing confidence as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and conveying her character and compassion.

Known for her philanthropy, Diana served as a patron to over 100 charities during her lifetime.

She earned the title “Queen of Hearts” for her dedication to various causes, including the AIDS crisis and the campaign against landmines.

In 1987, she challenged the false belief that AIDS could be transmitted through touch by shaking hands with a patient at London Middlesex Hospital.

During the unveiling ceremony, neither William nor Harry delivered speeches.

The statue itself stands as their testimony to their mother.

Created by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, the artwork is situated in the sunken garden at Kensington Palace, one of Diana's favorite places.

Over the past two years, the garden has undergone redesigning and now features more than 4,000 individual flowers, including forget-me-nots, which held a special place in the princess's heart.

Rank-Broadley expressed his privilege in working alongside Prince William and Prince Harry to create the statue, commemorating the life of an icon who touched people worldwide.

The artist aimed to capture Diana's warmth, humanity, and the impact she had on generations.

He hopes that visitors will enjoy their time at the statue and the sunken garden, taking a moment to remember the princess.

With Diana's siblings in attendance, William and Harry removed a green cloth covering the monument, which will forever remind visitors of Kensington Palace about its most famous resident.

Standing on either side of the statue, the brothers took in the memorial, with Harry resting his hands on his hips.

They arrived a few minutes early for the unveiling, engaging in conversation with Jamie Lowther Pinkerton, Chairman of the Statue Committee, along a path lined with shrubs.

Despite their well-publicized strained relationship, as they entered the garden, William and Harry mirrored each other, walking with their left hands touching their stomachs.

Harry laughed appreciatively upon seeing his mother's siblings and warmly greeted Lady Sarah McCorkindale, kissing her on both cheeks.

He then welcomed his aunt, Lady Jane Fellows, and Uncle Earl Spencer.

Throughout the event, William and Harry appeared in good spirits, laughing and joking with their guests, displaying ease in each other's company.

In front of the statue lies a paving stone engraved with an extract inspired by the poem “The Measure of a Man,” emphasizing the worth of Diana as a woman, regardless of her birth or station in life, focusing on her heart and how she fulfilled her role.

Due to Covid restrictions, the number of guests was limited to just 13, gathered between the garden's side entrance and the statue, positioned at the end of a large rectangular ornamental pond.

Members of the Statue Committee, responsible for commissioning and privately raising funds for the statue's creation since 2017, stood nearby.

Harry and William engaged in informal conversations with the guests, including Pip Morrison, the designer of the Sunken Gardens, Gary James, the Head Gardener of Kensington Palace, and Graeme Dillamore, the Deputy Head of Gardens and Estates at Historic Royal Palaces.

In a statement following the event, William and Harry expressed their gratitude to Ian Rank Broadley, Pip Morrison, and their teams for their exceptional work.

They also thanked the friends and donors who contributed to bringing the statue to life and acknowledged all those around the world who continue to keep their mother's memory alive.