Prince Harry and William Have a Much-Needed Friendly Reunion While Unveiling Princess Diana Statue
All eyes were on Prince William and Harry today as they reunited to pay tribute to their late mother, Princess Diana. They joined together to unveil a statue in her in honor of her 60th birthday. Tensions have been high between the royal brothers recently, leading many to wonder how they would interact during the event. But the boys appeared to be in complete harmony as they both tugged at the statue’s covering to reveal the heartwarming depiction of Diana.
Take a look:
William and Harry seemed to be in good spirits as they arrived together and enjoyed friendly conversation throughout the ceremony. They released a joint statement to mark the occasion:
“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.”
The statue is situated in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, which was one of Diana’s favorite spots on the palace grounds. The area was also given a makeover in her honor in 2017, the 20th anniversary of her passing. Sean Harkin, the palace’s head gardener at the time, explained that it was filled with all of Diana’s favorite flowers — forget-me-nots, white lilies, white roses, tulips, narcissi, and daisies. They also followed a color scheme of whites and creams as a nod to her own personal style. The statue was commissioned by William and Harry that year as well, but understandably took longer to construct.
The princes were joined by other members of Diana’s family, including her brother Charles Spencer and sisters Sarah Spencer and Jane Fellowes. The statue’s designer, Ian Rank-Broadley, was among the few non-family members in attendance. Fun fact: He’s also responsible for the image of Queen Elizabeth found on British coins since 1998.
William and Harry choosing to have the statue feature Diana surrounded by children serves as a perfect reminder of how kind and nurturing she was in her lifetime. The brothers clearly put a lot of love and consideration into this moving tribute to their mother — and put aside any differences currently between them to celebrate her memory. We’re sure her spirit is with them both today as they hopefully begin to mend fences.
