Princess Diana was a true trailblazer, from her iconic style moments to her determination to be human, even abandoning the royal protocol of wearing gloves so she could have direct contact with people that she met. She later went on to stop wearing hats, famously saying, ‘You can’t cuddle a child in a hat.’
Last week, on what would have been her 60th birthday, her two children Prince William and Prince Harry reunited to honour her with a statue.
The statue, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, was unveiled today in its new home - Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden, with Princess Diana's family in attendance.
Prince Harry flew back to the UK from California to join his brother at the unveiling, with hopes that the duo will bury the hatchet after years of speculated fallouts.
Royal expert Robert Lacey has since opened up about the day, explaining to People that William and Harry were 'not sweeping [their differences] under the carpet but acknowledging more important things and doing that in a way that warmed everyone's heart.'
He went on to praise the brothers' decision not to have speeches at the event, explaining: 'It was a very well-judged decision not to have speeches. The idea of rival speeches could have been disastrous, but to bring out a considered joint statement was perfect and shows a way ahead.'
The joint statement from the brothers was released on the day, with Prince William posting it to social media on behalf of the two of them.
'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,' Prince William posted, captioning a photograph of the two brothers looking at the statue.
‘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 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.'
Well, that's lovely.
