Prince William and Prince Harry on Thursday unveiled a statue of their late mother, Diana, in honor of what would have been her 60th birthday.
A very quiet affair due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has much of the world in isolation, it is also the first appearance of the two brothers together since their grandfather’s funeral in April.
Prince William and Prince Harry unveiled a statue of their late mother, Diana
The princes unveiled the statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, where Diana lived after her marriage to Prince Charles.
William and Harry commissioned the memorial in 2017 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their mother’s death in a car crash in Paris and to recognize “her positive impact on the UK and around the world.”
The unveiling, previously planned as a grand ceremony, was scaled back due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other members of the royal family did not attend, and Diana’s siblings joined Prince William and Prince Harry at the small event.
The statue was sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, who has already done several works for the royal family, including the image of the Queen that appears on coins in the UK and across the Commonwealth.
Crucial quote
In a joint statement, Prince William and Prince Harry said, “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.
“Every day we wish she would still be with us, and our hope is that this statue will forever be seen as a symbol of her life and legacy.”
