The Palace Explains Why Princess Diana's New Statue Depicts Her Alongside Three Children
On July 1, the world awaited with anticipation as Prince William and Prince Harry debuted a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden.
The tribute was a touching moment, as the brothers seemed to be in good spirits, but some were confused as to why the monument also depicted three children alongside the late royal.
After the reveal, the palace explained the significance of the kids in an official statement.
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"The statue aims to reflect the warmth, elegance and energy of Diana, Princess of Wales, in addition to her work and the impact she had on so many people," the palace said. "The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of The Princess' work."
"The portrait and style of dress was based on the final period of her life as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and aims to convey her character and compassion," the messaged concluded.
The statue was commissioned by Diana's two sons in 2017, and sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley brought their idea to life.
"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 expressed in a 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."
"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," they added.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a handful of people were allowed to attend the ceremony, including Diana's brother Charles Spencer, and her sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Jane Fellowes.
