Here Are All the Details You Missed From Princess Diana’s Statue Unveiling
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Prince William and Prince Harry recently reunited at their grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral, their first face-to-face interaction in more than a year amid a ton of tension. Philip’s funeral was a drama-free event minus a whole sartorial situation, and now William and Harry have reunited again—much more publicly—for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue at Kensington Palace. The event inevitably put a big spotlight on the brothers, who wanted to put aside their differences and focus on honoring their late mother. Here are all the details on the statue including the location, design, sculptor, and the date William and Harry got together to debut it.
The Statue Is in Princess Diana’s Favorite Spot
Specifically, her favorite spot on the grounds of Kensington Palace, known as the Sunken Garden. Back in 2017, the Sunken Garden was turned into a beautiful tribute to Diana on the 20th anniversary of her death—featuring a display of her favorite flowers, like forget-me-nots, white lilies, white roses, tulips, narcissi, and daisies. Kensington Palace’s head gardener, Sean Harkin, said the color scheme was a nod to Diana’s love of whites and creams in her own personal style.
The Statue Was Unveiled on July 1, 2021
July 1, 2021 would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday and is clearly a significant day for William and Harry, who announced news of the statue’s unveiling in a rare joint press release via Kensington Palace:
“The statue will be installed in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace on 1st July 2021, marking the Princess’s 60th birthday. The Princes hope that the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on their mother’s life and her legacy.”
FYI, the brothers originally commissioned the statue back in 2017, saying in a joint statement, “It has been 20 years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognize 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.”
Harry and William Put Aside Their Differences When It Comes to the Statue’s Design
William and Harry’s relationship has been strained (um, to say the least) in the wake of Harry and Meghan Markle stepping away from royal duties, as well as their tell-all interview with Oprah. But the brothers have reportedly kept things drama-free when it comes to approving designs for Diana’s statue. A source told The Sun:
“It will have been signed off by William and Harry, that much I do know. I know [sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley] did work closely with the boys and I think it will be incredible.”
The Engraving on the Statue Is Meaningful
Diana’s name is underneath, naturally, but in front is a paving stone with an excerpt from the poem “The Measure of a Man,” which was featured in a 2007 memorial service for Diana.
It reads:
These are the units to measure the worth
Of this woman as a woman regardless of birth.
Not what was her station?
But had she a heart?
How did she play her God-given part?
The Sculptor Is Super Famous
Princess Diana’s sculpture is being made by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose extremely close-up face you can see below! You might not have heard of Ian, but you’ve definitely seen his work considering he designed the image of the Queen that is used on coins in the UK.
“Diana, Princess of Wales was an icon who touched the lives of people right around the world, so it has been a privilege to work alongside Prince William and Prince Harry on this statue which commemorates her life,” Rank-Broadley said in a statement about the statue. “We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations. I hope that people will enjoy visiting the statue and the Sunken Garden and taking a moment to remember the princess.”
Meghan and Kate Did Not Attend
Meghan Markle just gave birth to her daughter, Lili, earlier this summer and won’t be attending the statue unveiling as a result. Entertainment Tonight had intel on Meghan’s plans to attend, with a source saying, “Meghan has just had a baby and has no plans to travel to London for the memorial event planned for the statue unveiling.”
Kate Middleton, on the other hand, was initially supposed to attend the event. The Mirror reported that Kate was going, with a royal source telling the outlet, “The duchess has seen this project evolve from its conception and now to the finished article and undoubtedly wants to be there to support her husband. No doubt there will be tensions between the Cambridges and Harry, but they all recognize that despite the obvious and deep-rooted issues between them, they want the day to be solely about the Princess of Wales’s enduring legacy.”
But over the weekend, the Daily Mail was told by Kensington Palace that only “the princes will now be joined only by Diana’s close family, the statue committee, the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, and garden designer Pip Morrison” due to COVID-19 restrictions. A Page Six source later reported that Kate along with Will “are planning a private family visit with their children, and that private moment is far more important than the public rhetoric.”
Prince Charles Didn’t Attend Either
Per Entertainment Tonight, Charles sat out the statue unveiling because he “doesn’t want to be a distraction” at the event. Instead, Charles is traveling and “has made it quite clear he will not be around…because he is going to Scotland,” according to The Sun.
William and Harry Gave a Statement at the Unveiling
Here’s what they said in a statement directly from Kensington Palace:
“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 were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.
“Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison, and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.”
Their Body Language Shows Their Bond Is Still Strong
Speaking to The Sun, body language expert Judi James noted while Harry's body language hinted at "some inner tension," they're prioritizing "their roles as Diana's sons over their roles as brothers. Emerging side-by-side their smiles did appear slightly over-worked at first but one very telling trait was how their body language was mirrored. This kind of mimicry suggests strong subliminal bonds, hinting that old ties still bind them despite their current rifts."
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