Prince Harry and Prince William Honor Their Mother Princess Diana At Statue Unveiling

Jul 02, 2021 by apost team

On July 1, Prince William and Prince Harry reunited for the first time since Prince Philip’s April funeral ceremony at Windsor Castle. The brothers came together at Kensington Palace on Thursday to commemorate and unveil a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday.

Given the apparent rift that has grown between Harry and the royal family, the event was also notable in that it saw the Duke of Sussex return to his home country to be with his brother and other members of the royal family, whom he has openly criticized in the past year.

With Princess Diana's statue unveiling, many fans were curious if the brotherly tension would amount to a scene at the event. But reports of the July 1 unveiling have commented on the event’s low-key character and the brothers’ friendliness toward one another.

The unveiling’s low-key nature is partly attributable to the fact that COVID-19 restrictions meant that the event was only sparsely attended, though Harry and William were able to reunite with their late mother’s siblings: Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Charles Spencer.

The official statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, is located at the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, a spot that is said to have been her favorite on the grounds. The Guardian reports that the statue has been in the works since 2017, when plans were announced on Diana’s 20th death anniversary. The main unofficial memorial to the late princess has until now been a fountain in Hyde Park in London.

As reported by the BBC, a statement released by Prince William and Prince Harry back in 2017 said:

"It has been 20 years since our mother's death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue."

It continued:

"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."

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's abrupt departure as senior working members of the Royal Family in March 2020, Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 was the first time that Harry and his family have reunited. There have currently been tensions between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family due to their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, followed by their role in the Apple+ Docuseries "The Me You Can't See." 

Harry and William have only been communicating by text amid a bitter fallout. Surprisingly enough, the win by England on Tuesday against Germany has sparked the pair texting each other about soccer, according to The Daily Mail. 

However, the brothers showed no animosity or anger towards each other during the unveiling. The brothers were in good spirits are the event as they animatedly interacted with the guests and even gave a joint statement together about what the statue means to them. Vanity Fair reported that a source said the brothers had agreed to call a temporary truce for the day, adding, “What you will see is a carefully choreographed show of unity for that day, at least."

Royal fans have been hoping that this event could help to heal the once-close brothers' relationship. 

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The new statue, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, shows Diana with short hair accompanied by three children. In front, a paving stone is engraved with words inspired by the poem “The Measure of Man.”

"The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales, is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of the Princess’s work," Kensington Palace said regarding the statue’s special meaning.

The statement also continued, "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." 

Rank-Broadley, the prominent English artist who sculpted the commemorative piece, also commented on the artwork and the special occasion.

“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 of his work.

“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,” he continued.

Fans from around the world took to social media to pay tribute to Diana on her 60th birthday and the new statue. Of course, the most important tribute came from the late princess’ children — William and Harry.

"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 their joint statement that accompanied the unveiling of their late mother’s statue. 

Do you think Diana's statue unveiling helped to heal the rift between the two brothers or is this just a small break? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this on to other royal fans you know.