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Princess Diana memorial unveiled - 19th July 2021
A commemorative sculpture of Diana, Princess of Wales, has been unveiled at Kensington Palace, London.
The Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, William and Harry, came together for a ceremony in the redesigned gardens at their mother's former residence, Kensington Palace. The occasion marked what would have been their mother’s 60th birthday.
It was the princes’ first public appearance together since Prince Philip's funeral. Their grandfather, the Queen's husband, was buried in April 2021.
Relations between the two brothers have been strained following Prince Harry's official departure from the royal family in 2020. Despite this, the siblings appeared relaxed and in good humour as they chatted to the select crowd of invited guests.
The group, consisting primarily of family members, reacted warmly when the two princes revealed the figure from beneath a green cover. Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley produced the statue, which features the Princess surrounded by three children and is cast in bronze.
Although the occasion was an informal one, the brothers made a joint public statement. “We will remember her love, strength, and character," they said, "qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.”
Princess Diana died after suffering fatal injuries in a car crash in August 1997, when William and Harry were aged just 15 and 12. When they commissioned the artwork in 2017, the princes anticipated it would help visitors "reflect on her life and her legacy".
Members of the public now have this opportunity as the work is on permanent display in the palace gardens.
