In a ceremony five years in the making, Prince William and Prince Harry reunited in London on Thursday to unveil a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. In Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, the brothers had a brief conversation and uncovered a bronze sculpture with a blue-green patina, showing Diana surrounded by three children. According to Kensington Palace, the statue was meant to reflect her appearance and style of dress in the last years of her life, as she became internationally known for her humanitarian work.
“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,” William and Harry said in a rare joint statement. “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.”
The statue was unveiled in front of a small group that included sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley and garden designer Pip Morrison, members of the committee that organized the statue, and Rupert Gavin, the chair of Historic Royal Palaces. Diana’s siblings, Charles, Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, were also present.
At the feet of the statue is a quote from the poem “The Measure of a Man,” which reads: “These are the units to measure the worth/Of this woman a woman regardless of birth/Not what was her station?/But had she a heart?/How did she play her God-given part?”
There was fervent speculation in the days leading up to the ceremony of just what the interaction between the princes would entail, given the well-publicized rift between them. “They know the eyes of the world will be on them—watching their every move—so what you will see is a carefully choreographed show of unity for that day, at least,” a source told Vanity Fair previously.
Harry traveled alone to the U.K. for the ceremony, leaving back in California his wife Meghan Markle, son Archie, and newborn daughter Lilibet Diana. It remains unclear how much time Harry will spend with members of his family while in London, though sources suggest that the brothers planned to have time for a proper sit-down either before or after the statue ceremony.
Diana lived with William and Harry in Kensington Palace for the last years of her life, and William keeps an apartment there with his family. A revamp of the palace’s Sunken Garden was also unveiled during the ceremony. The garden, which dates back to 1908, was replanted with five varieties of roses, tulips, lavender plants, dahlias, sweet peas, and 100 forget-me-nots, which were said to be Diana’s favorite flowers.
“While she was in residence at Kensington Palace, Diana, Princess of Wales regularly admired the changing floral displays in the Sunken Garden and would always stop to talk with me and the other gardeners who cared for it,” Graham Dillamore, the deputy head of gardens and estates at Historic Royal Palaces, said in a statement. “We’ve incorporated a number of the Princess’s favorite flowers into the design, and I hope that visitors to the palace and gardens will enjoy its peaceful setting, and take a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of the Princess.”
The statue was designed by Rank-Broadley, an artist who designed the likeness of Queen Elizabeth that has appeared on coins since 1998. “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. “We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she has across generations.”
The brothers announced their plans for the sculpture in January 2017, in anticipation of the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death. “Our mother touched so many lives,” Harry and William said in a the statement at the time. “We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and legacy.”
The garden will be open to the public. Kensington Palace is open, but due to the pandemic, timed tickets are required.
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