First view of Diana’s magnificent memorial garden
A NEW tribute to Princess Diana in the 20th anniversary year of her death has suddenly sprung into full bloom in the sunken garden at Kensington Palace.
Staff at the late Princess’s London home were not expecting to see the magnificent White Garden, one of several special royal tributes to Diana this year, in all its glory until May.
But last weekend’s miniheatwave caused the glorious carpet of flowers to fill the garden where Diana once chatted amiably to the staff gardeners.
A palace spokeswoman said: “It’s bloomed somewhat earlier than we were expecting because of the hot weather.
“Gardens are always slightly unpredictable but it’s in full bloom. It looks amazing.”
Its white flowers and foliage have been inspired by memories of Diana’s life, style and image, such as her white “Elvis” Catherine Walker dress, currently on display inside the palace.
The garden also evokes memories of the carpet of flowers left outside the palace by thousands of shocked mourners after her death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997.
At the palace, where her sons Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge, his wife Kate and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte live, visitors can view the garden from a public walkway.
The white carpet of forget-menots, roses, tulips and scented narcissi among others will be added to with summer planting that will include ornamental grasses, cosmos daisies, and gaura flowers that look like butterflies in a breeze.
Head gardener Sean Harkin chose the sunken garden, first planted in 1908, as the memorial site after he learned the Princess would often stop to talk to the gardeners. “Kensington Palace was the home of Princess Diana for 15 years and there’s gardeners who aren’t here any more but remember, and told me stories, about when they were working here in the sunken garden,” he said.
“And they remember Princess Diana coming by and she would stop and she would admire the changing floral displays in the garden. And we change them over in springtime and in summer, so it can look quite different. She would have a chat with the gardeners and comment on all their hard work.”
He also told how a gardener fell over with an overweighted wheelbarrow.
He said: “Princess Diana was going by and turned around and said ‘Bad luck, chaps’, and kind of gave a smile. And they kind of smiled and found it really quite funny.”
Later this year William and Harry will unveil a statue of her at the palace as a tribute.