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'We wish she were still with us': UK's William and Harry reunite to unveil Princess Diana statue

'We wish she were still with us': UK's William and Harry reunite to unveil Princess Diana statue

Say they hope the statue unveiled on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday would be a lasting memorial to her life, legacy.
Updated 01 Jul, 2021

British Princes William and Harry reunited on Thursday when they unveiled a statue of their late mother Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday, saying they hoped it would be a lasting memorial to her life and legacy.

The brothers, whose differences have been the subject of intense media scrutiny, looked relaxed together as they revealed the statue they commissioned in honour of Diana in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace in central London, her former home.

Footage from the unveiling ceremony showed William and Harry talking together.

The bronze statue depicts Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997, surrounded by three children, which Kensington Palace said represented "the universality and generational impact" of her 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," the brothers said in a 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."

William and Harry were joined by their mother's brother Charles Spencer and her sisters Sarah McCorquodale and Jane Fellowes for the small, private event at the Sunken Garden, one of Diana's favourite places.

Tribute

The statue, which is blueish green in colour and designed by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley whose effigy of Queen Elizabeth has been used on British and Commonwealth coins, was commissioned by the princes in 2017 as a tribute to their mother.

William's office said they wanted it to reflect her positive impact in Britain and globally, and to help future generations understand "the significance of her place in history".

Beneath the statue is a plinth bearing Diana's name and the date of the unveiling, while in front lies a paving stone engraved with an extract inspired by the poem "The Measure of A Man".

William was 15 and Harry 12 when the limousine carrying their mother and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a tunnel in Paris as it sped away from chasing photographers.

Both brothers have spoken of the deep trauma her death caused, and how it affected their mental health for years afterwards. Almost a quarter of a century since the fatal crash, Diana remains a captivating figure for many.

Since giving up royal duties last year, Harry has launched some barbed attacks on his family and the royal institutions, including an accusation of racism that he and his wife Meghan made in an interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey.

The brothers last saw each other in April at the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip, the queen's husband of more than 70 years.

Comments

ST Jul 01, 2021 10:37pm
Beautiful Diana inside out
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Ghani K Jul 02, 2021 12:08am
'We wish she was still alive' - Does Charles wishes as well !
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Uzair Jul 02, 2021 02:31am
Fine. Could have done something that would've had a positive influence on society, considering their position. But fine.
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Abdul Jul 02, 2021 06:49am
Diana was wonderful. The rest of the Royal family isn't....
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jul 02, 2021 08:15am
United we stand, divided we fall.
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Maxx Jul 02, 2021 09:56am
The spirit of her humanitarian work lives on!
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ENGR Hamid shafiq Jul 02, 2021 11:58am
Diana is the Queen of common people always live in our hearts
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well-wisher Jul 02, 2021 09:10pm
A noble soul that rests in peace. She and her love Dodi left together to rest in peace. Wm and Harry, be brothers forever because that's what she liked. RIP.
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