diana statue brings Wills and harry together
William and Harry put differences aside to announce unveiling
PRINCES William and Harry have put aside their strained relationship to announce the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday.
In a rare joint statement they said the statue, which they commissioned in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of their mother’s death in a Paris car crash, will be installed in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on July 1 next year.
The garden is where Harry and Meghan posed for photos after announcing their engagement in November 2017. It is unclear whether Harry, who is currently living with Meghan in their new £11million home in Montecito, California, will return for the ceremony.
Kensington Palace said yesterday that the installation of the statue had been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic but insisted that there had been progress on the design stages.
Legacy
When they announced the privately funded project in January 2017,William, now 38, and Harry, 35, said they hoped it would be unveiled by the end of that year. It would recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world.
They said in a statement then: “Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.”
There has been speculation that the brothers’ feud, which began when William urged Harry to be cautious with Meghan early on in their romance, had left them unable to agree amid long spells when were not on speaking terms.
But sources close to the brothers have insisted the feud has had no effect on the statue.
Aides have said that, apart from coronavirus, the other main reason for the delay has been their desire to create a fitting tribute. A royal source said yesterday: “It’s a lasting memorial to the Princess. It’s very important to get it right.”
Both brothers have been at pains to play down suggestions they competed to be torch bearer for their mother’s legacy and agree both share responsibility to preserve her memory.
The statue is by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, whose portrait of the Queen appears on all UK coins. William and Harry announced the commission in December 2017, calling Ian “an extremely gifted sculptor” who “will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother”.
Other tributes to Diana include the White Garden at Kensington Palace. Monday marks 23 years since the Princess was killed, when William and Harry were aged just 15 and 12.