Diana statue: Prince Harry’s body language criticised by Levin

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Many were enthralled and loved the sculpture, but others were very critical of the way the people’s princess has been portrayed. But any negative comments had no effect on the line of visitors which grew steadily throughout the day. All seemed to agree on the splendour of Kensington Palace’s sunken garden, where Diana’s sons Princes William and Harry unveiled the statue on Thursday – the day the Princess of Wales would have celebrated turning 60.

Said to have been a favourite place of Diana’s, the area has been redesigned, with more than 4,000 flowers planted.

The blooms, many in pastel shades, include a number of her favourite flowers with more than 200 roses, 300 tulips, about 500 lavender plants, 100 dahlias, 50 sweet peas and 100 forget-me-nots.

Celia Coyle, 81, from Kensington, said of the memorial – designed by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley: “It’s okay, I’m not so keen on this sort of modern statue, but it’s quite nice.

“I think she was better looking, her face looks a bit rugged.”

Some had come from as far as Yorkshire to see the bronze sculpture. Gareth and Lauren Hughes, 40 and 46, who live in Leeds, visited for Gareth’s birthday.

Lauren said: “We thought it was lovely. We hadn’t seen Kensington Palace, so we wanted to come and see that, too. I like the Royal Family. I like all of them. It’s lovely.”

Terry Hutt, known as “the Union Jack man”, 86, said: “I loved Diana. The statue is beautiful and I think she would be proud if she was here today. The surprise was we did not expect four on the statue. We were all looking for one.”

But a sculptor called Vicky, 75, from Norfolk said: “I’m not impressed. The head is too big.

“She looks too old. The children look like old men.” 

Visitors went around the garden one at a time via a one-way system to meet Covid rules.

Husband and wife Richard, 72, and Rosa, 68, from Chelsea, south west London, were among them.

Richard said: “I think it looks really nice. It is very poignant.”

Aileen Shaw, 61, from the Cotswolds, said: “It is a fantastic statement piece. I love the textures and metal. But it was not feminine enough. Her face is too masculine.”

Karen, 55, from Bromley, south east London said: “I love it at a distance. I love the feel of it and the atmosphere it creates about Diana’s relationship with her children. I love the movement of the clothes. It is as beautiful as she was.”

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