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British Royals

Diana, 60 Years: The story behind the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales

On 1 July, in honour of what would have been her 60th birthday, Prince William and Prince Harry will reveal a statue of their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. William and Harry commissioned the statue in 2017 for the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death. Because of the worldwide health crisis, the installation plans were pushed back. The new statue will be the first official sculpture of the late Princess.

“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,” the brothers jointly said when the statue was originally announced. “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.”

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The statue will be placed in Diana’s favourite part of Kensington Palace grounds, the Sunken Garden. In 2017, the garden featured many of Diana’s favourite flowers, including forget-me-nots, white lilies, white roses, tulips, narcissi, and Cosmo daisies. In total, more than 12,000 bulbs were planted two seasons before the display was revealed. The palace’s website described the tribute as: “inspired by memories of the Princess’s life, image and style.” Later that year, Prince Harry used the garden to announce his engagement to Meghan Markle.

So who will be behind the sculpture? Ian Rank-Broadley. The British sculptor has produced many acclaimed works and several designs used for British coinage. Rank-Broadley also has works in permanent collections at some of London’s most famous sites, including the British Museum and London’s National Portrait Gallery. He also has work housed at St Paul’s Cathedral, the church where Diana married Prince Charles in July 1981.

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Also, this summer, in light of her milestone birthday, Kensington Palace will put Diana’s iconic wedding dress on display featuring its 25-ft train. The silk taffeta dress by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel is decorated with 10,000 pearls, Carrickmacross lace, and sequins. It also has a tiny, secret 18k gold horseshoe stitched into the petticoats for luck. Diana is also set to be celebrated by a special ‘blue plaque’ that will be installed at the London flat she lived in before marrying Charles. The English Heritage Trust awards blue plaques to commemorate the homes and workplaces of historically significant people.

Several London memorials have been created in tribute to Diana. This includes the Diana Memorial Playground at Kensington Palace, the Diana Memorial Foundation in Hyde Park, and the Diana Memorial Walk at St James’s Palace. Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a Paris car crash on 31 August 1997. At the time of her death, Prince William was 15-years-old, and Prince Harry was 12-years-old.

About author

My name is Sydney Zatz and I am a University of Iowa graduate. I graduated with a degree in journalism and sports studies, and a minor in sport and recreation management. A highlight of my college career was getting the chance to study abroad in London and experiencing royal history firsthand. I have a passion for royals, royal history, and journalism, which led me to want to write for Royal Central.