Diana statue’s garden home filled with princess’s favourite flowers

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Prince William and Prince Harry attended an event at Kensington Palace on Thursday to honour the memory of their mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. The princes reunited in the palace’s Sunken Garden for the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana.

In a joint statement, Prince William and Prince Harry said they “remember her love, strength and character” and that they “wish she were still with us” every day.

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex 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.”

The unveiling took place at a small family event attended by Princess Diana’s siblings, including Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes.

The Statue Committee behind the new sculpture also attended the event including the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, garden designer Pip Morrison and Chair of Historic Royal Palaces, Rupert Gavin.

The statue was commissioned by the brothers in 2017, to memorialise their mother and mark the twentieth anniversary of her death. 

The sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley, said: “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. 

“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.”

Kensington Palace said the statue aim was to reflect Diana’s “warmth, elegance and energy”.

The children in the statue represent the “universality and generational impact of the princess’s work”.

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The Palace added: “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.”

Prior to her death in 1997, Princess Diana lived at Kensington Palace with her two sons.

The Sunken Garden was chosen as the location for the statue as it was once of Princess Diana’s favourite spots in Kensington Palace.

Work began on the garden in October 2019 and five gardeners have spent a total of 1000 hours working on planting.

Over the last few years, more than 4,000 individual flowers have been planted in the garden, including:

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