Prince Harry and Prince William row over Princess Diana's statue

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Prince William and Prince Harry commissioned their late mother statue for Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden back when they were “best of friends”, royal commentator Julie Montagu noted. But the pair were rocked by “a huge rift” just a few months before the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue in July 2021. The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex ended up appearing together at the unveiling of the statue but their relationship has reportedly failed to heal completely so far.

Speaking to Channel 5’s Secret of the Royal Palaces, narrator Samantha Bond said: “Diana’s sons William and Harry decided to commission a statue to honour her memory.

“They planned to place it in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.” 

Ms Bond continued: “The statue would be unveiled to the public on the 1st of July, 2021, to mark what would have been their mother’s 60th birthday. 

“But no one could have foreseen what would happen over those four years.”

Julie Montagu, the Viscountess Hinchingbrooke and Royal commentator said: “That was her favourite place within Kensington Palace, and also probably the place that she shared a lot of her memories with her two boys.

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“If you look at 2017, when it was commissioned, William and Harry were best of friends. Fast forward four years later, there is a huge rift between the brothers.”

The narrator then added: “William and Harry’s strained relationship was at breaking point since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the intention to withdraw from the royal family in January 2020.”

Buckingham Palace released a statement about the decision on January 28, 2017, saying: “It has been twenty 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 statute.  

“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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Commentator Camilla Tominey told the BBC: “This is Harry and William saying that want a more permanent and personal memorial to their mother.

“They were too young when she died to have any role in the memorial.

Princess Diana’s statue was finally unveiled on July 1, 2021, when the brothers reunited for only the second time since Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down from the Royal Family in March 2020.

The bronze statue of Princess Diana was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, who also designed Queen’s profile on the UK’s official coinage. 

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The event was attended by Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Lady Jane Fellowes while Prince Charles and the Queen decided to give the event a miss.

The brothers temporarily set aside their differences to make a touching statement about their mother during the unveiling of the statue: “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.”

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