Prince William and Prince Harry just unveiled Princess Diana's beautiful 60th birthday statue

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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.’

Today, on what would have been her 60th birthday, her two children Prince William and Prince Harry have reunited to honour her with a statue.

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The statue, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, was unveiled privately 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 a speculated fallout.

Joining forces, the two princes released a joint statement:

'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 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.’

This is beautiful.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.