The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex unveiling a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales
(Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive)Today is the 25th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, after she tragically passed away in a car crash in 1997.
Diana’s death shocked the world and, in the subsequent decades, her influence and legacy are still felt today.
Speaking recently about Diana, her son, Prince Harry said: “There isn’t a day during the past two-and-a-half decades I haven’t thought about the mark she left, not only on me and my brother but on all of our lives.”
To commemorate what would have been her 60th birthday in 2021, a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales was unveiled in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace.
The Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace was reportedly chosen because it was one of Diana’s favourite places.
Diana spent much of her time in the green space surrounding the palace where she lived for more than 15 years. She loved flowers, especially forget-me-nots, white lilies, white roses, tulips, narcissi, and Cosmo daisies.
“She would stop by and talk to the gardeners when she was living here,” Sean Harkin, head gardener at Kensington Palace, told Vogue.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Princess Diana statue, and when it’s open to the public.
When can you visit the Princess Diana statue?
The Princess Diana sculpture is located in the Sunken Garden, at Kensington Palace, London. In the summer season, from March 2 to October 30, it is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, with last admission at 5pm.
In the winter, from October 31 to March 1, the garden is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm, with last admission at 3pm.
The Sunken Garden, featuring the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, can be viewed in normal opening hours only, Wednesday - Sunday, 10am - 5.45pm.
Who are the children with her in the statue?
The two children in the statue don’t represent anyone in particular, according to a Kensington Palace spokesperson, but instead are meant to reflect Diana’s unique bond with children, and her caring side.
The palace said. “The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales, is surrounded by three children, who represent the universality and generational impact of the princess’s work.”
Artist Ian Rank-Broadley was chosen to design the statue.
In a joint statement, Harry and William said: “Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother.”
The artist has royal connections, having completed the Armed Forces Memorial. His effigy of Queen Elizabeth II has been on Commonwealth coins dating back to 1998.
In his own statement, Mr Rank-Broadley said of the statue: “It is my sole and highest intention to fulfil the expectations of Their Royal Highnesses in creating a lasting and fitting memorial to their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.”
