Our mother touched so many lives... statue will reflect her life & legacy
The Queen approves Diana memorial in Honour that’s long overdue
IT is right and fitting that Princess Diana’s sons have announced that a statue of her will be erected as a “positive tribute” to her life. About time too. It seems incredible that this marks the 20th anniversary of her death in a Paris car crash, her life snuffed out far too early due to a drunk driver being chased by paparazzi.
But it’s also incredible that it has taken this long for a statue of her to be commissioned.
Diana was named Third Greatest Briton in the BBC’s top 100 in 2002 – yet there was no permanent memorial to her apart from the fountain in Hyde Park. The No 1, Sir Winston Churchill, has had a statue in the shadow of Parliament since 1973.
William and Harry, for so long quiet in public about their mother, have only recently started opening up about the great personal loss and anger they felt.
They were only children when in the 1980s and 1990s she was the world’s most famous woman, a giant force for good. She was the embodiment of compassion, glamour and duty. She was a great servant to this country.
Champion
Since then far too much has been made of the circumstances of her death and not enough of what she actually did to change the lives of others for the better.
She was a champion for those with HIV/ AIDS breaking down the stigma by holding the hand of a man with the disease. She comforted children in the Third World, victims of leprosy, poverty, homelessness.
She made regular private visits to sick children in Great Ormond Street. And she even courted controversy towards the end of her life by becoming the anti-land mines activists’ most visible advocate.
Amid the conspiracy theories that surrounded her death, her achievements have often been lost; her public duty distorted.
Diana was a controversial figure, without question, but as someone who chronicled her work during that time it seems wrong that we have waited so long for a statue of her.
In the 20 years since their mother’s death William and Harry have done their best to champion causes she cared for. She would have been proud of her boys.
Harry’s charity Sentebale and his work with HIV/AIDS together with William’s work with homeless charity Centrepoint have shown their determination to carry on Diana’s legacy of compassion and kindness.
And when her statue is unveiled 20 years after her death it will be a moment for reflection – but also a time for celebration of a great life too. PRINCES William and Harry are to build a permanent memorial statue of their mother Diana in the public gardens of Kensington Palace.
The princes hope to unveil the poignant tribute in time for the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death this August.
The Queen, who was publicly criticised after Diana’s death for not flying a flag at half- mast over Buckingham Palace, has given her full backing.
The exact position of the historic statue has not been disclosed but a senior Royal source said it could in view of William and Kate’s home.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman last night told the Sunday People: “The Queen is aware of the plans and supports the wish of the Duke and Prince Harry to memorialise the l i fe and work of their mother.”
A joint statement from Prince William and Prince Harry said: “It has been 20 years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue.
“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.”
Creation
The Duke of Cambridge, 34, and Prince Harry, 32, are understood to have privately campaigned for the honour to their mother for a number of years.
They have formed a six-person committee to commission and privately raise funds for the creation of the statue.
The committee, chaired by the Princes’ trusted former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, will advise on the selection of the sculptor.
It will also work with the Historic Royal Palaces charity on installation.
Members of The Diana, Princess of Wales Statue Committee include Diana’s older sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 61, and one of Diana’s closest friends Julia Samuel, 57, now Prince George’s godmother.
The other three committee members are Gerry Farrell, city financier Guy Monson, a trustee of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Foundation, and Historic Royal Palaces director of conservation and learning John Barnes.
Mr Barnes said: “The statue will provide a permanent tribute to one of Kensington Palace’s most memorable residents, Diana, Princess of Wales, es, in the gardens which she greatlyy admired.”
A source closee to the Palace added: “Prince William and Prince Harry have ve dreamed of doing this for a long time.
“They were both th just boys when their motherer passed away, but are both th now fully grown menn and want to honour her in the best way possible.
“It has taken 20 years for this to finally come to fruition so they are determined it will be a lasting and fitting legacy in what is their official London residence and a place special to them both.”
A Kensington Palace source yesterday said it is too early to say what the statue will look like or exactly where in the grounds of
Kensi Kensington Palace it will be. Last March the Sunday People exclusively revealed the princes’ determination to keep their mother’s memory alive by building a new landmark memorial garden and exhibition in the grounds of her former London home.
The move follows years of criticism for a series of failed efforts to build a fitting tribute to Diana after her shock hock death in a car crash in Paris ris in 1997 at the age of 36. Williamam was 15 and Harry just 12 at thehe time.
A string of public memorials and tributes es have faltered and faced criticisms isms for their failure to properly commemorate the princess.
Row
In 2007 the he Concert For Diana at London’s Wembley Stadium raised cash for a string of charities including the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial morial Fund.
But just six years later the charity, which raiseded £ 138million in the immediate aftermath of her death, closed as an n operational entity.
William and Harry had to step in to save the fund.
Diana’s final resting place at