Prince Harry and Prince William put their issues aside this afternoon to pay tribute to their late mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, at her statue unveiling in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, situated in London’s Hyde Park. The event wasn’t attended by Prince Charles or Kate Middleton—just Harry, William, and Diana’s family. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife, remained in California with their two children Archie and Lili; Meghan just gave birth to Lili on June 4.
Harry and William released a statement together to mark the moment. They said:
“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.”
They were also photographed together unveiling the statue:
DOMINIC LIPINSKIGetty Images
DOMINIC LIPINSKIGetty Images
DOMINIC LIPINSKIGetty Images
Kensington Palace released a press release about the gathering, calling it a “small family event.” Diana’s siblings Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Lady Jane Fellowes attended with William and Harry, along with sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley and garden designer Pip Morrison.
Some royal reporters on social media noted that the event was private and closed to the royal rota (there was minimal press presence there), and that William had agreed to restrict media access at Harry’s request. There’s been no public confirmation of this by Kensington Palace, and the U.K. remains under some lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19. But what the brothers established today is that Diana’s legacy matters far more than anything else.
Alyssa Bailey
News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).
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