July 1, 2021, marks what would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday. And while that will no doubt still be a painful day for her sons, Prince Harry and Prince William are trying to make the occasion as positive as possible. So the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex plan to unveil a statue of their mother on that day that will have pride of place in the gardens of Kensington Palace.
The statue has been in the works for four years already, and now the public is finally going to be able to see the touching tribute to the late princess. Even two decades after her death, Diana's legacy remains as strong as ever, and the statue will be a physical representation of that. Plus, it will be something that William, who still lives with his family at Kensington Palace, can see and be reminded of his mother's life in the best way.
Here's everything we know so far about the statue and the upcoming unveiling ceremony.
William and Harry Want the Statue To Honor Diana's Life and Legacy
When the brothers announced the statue in 2017, they said they commissioned the work to honor their mother's "life and legacy," and to help her many fans have something to remember her by. "We look forward to unveiling the statue, which will allow all those who visit Kensington Palace to remember and celebrate her," a statement from the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex read.
It Was Designed by a Famous Sculptor
The sculptor the brothers chose, Ian Rank-Broadley, is used to creating works of art inspired by the royals. According to Vanity Fair, he previously designed the model of Queen Elizabeth that's been featured on the British coins since 1998. "Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor, and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother," the brothers' statement said.
The Statue Has Been in the Works for Years
First announced by the princes in 2017, the original plan was to unveil the statue later that same year. Then the date got moved to 2019. And then the lockdown in 2020 prevented it from taking place that year. Needless to say, it's been a long time coming, considering that Harry and William initially intended for it to be unveiled for the 20th anniversary of their mother's 1997 death.
It Is Finally Finished
Four years later, The Sun reported in April that the mold for the statue was officially done and was in the process of being cast. The artist completed it after the two princes weighed in on the final look. We don't blame them for taking a long time to get it absolutely perfect. It's their mom after all. It needs to do her justice.
It Is Set To Be Unveiled in July
It apparently only took a couple of months to cast the final statue, because the big unveiling is planned for July 1 — on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday. It's actually a much better way to honor her life rather than the anniversary of her death, which the original timeline was set to do.
The Statue Will Reside in One of Diana's Favorite Spots
The statue will live in the Kensington Palace White Garden that serves as a tribute to Diana, because it was one of her favorite places. After her death, it was filled with white roses, lilies, and forget-me-nots as a nod to the princess and some of her favorite flowers. And the mulch used was made from the flowers fans left at the palace gates after she died. Now, the statue will add even more of an obvious tribute to the late princess.
Despite Their Feud, Harry & William Have Made This a Priority
According to Us Weekly, the royal brothers allegedly haven't talked about anything other than the Diana statue in their brief conversations with each other. "They agreed over the statue, but communication between them was sparse and over email and WhatsApp," a source claimed. "The statue is to reflect on Diana's legacy, not their feud, and William wants to keep it that way."
They Both Reportedly Plan To Attend the Unveiling
Despite any turmoil between them, the brothers intend to unite to unveil the statue together. As a source claimed to the Sun, "They will both move heaven and earth to be there. They commissioned the statue together. It is very important for them." Presenting a united front on this issue is definitely a good idea — and maybe it will help bring them back together.
But They May Make Separate Speeches
The Sun's source claimed that despite their desire to present a united front at the unveiling, they reportedly still plan to make separate speeches. "The brothers will be physically together for the ceremony but want to make their own personal addresses," the source said. "You might have thought they'd go for a joint statement and speech, but that's not the case. Each has insisted on preparing their own." It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.
Meghan Markle & the Queen Are Reportedly Not Going
The Duchess of Sussex couldn't attend Prince Philip's funeral because her doctor advised her not to fly while pregnant. So she will probably miss the statue ceremony for the same reason. And the Queen is reportedly also not going in order to keep the focus on Diana, rather that distracting anyone with her royal presence.
But Kate Middleton & Her Kids Might Be There
The Duchess of Cambridge is likely to show up at the event to support her husband. She's paid tribute to the late princess before in different ways, like when Harry and William unveiled the White Garden and Kate went with them to the ceremony. And she could possibly bring George, Charlotte, and Louis, who in the past have written cards to their grandmother for Mother's Day and seem to grasp who she was.
There Is One Reason Harry Could Miss the Unveiling
Harry and Meghan previously revealed that their second child, a girl, is due this summer. If Meghan goes into labor or seems like she's getting close to going into labor around the July 1 ceremony, Harry could potentially end up missing the statue unveiling. It would be understandable if he wanted to be there for his daughter's birth instead.
But in That Case, It Could Be Postponed
If Harry can't make it, royal expert Omid Scobie thinks that the date could be postponed. "I don't think it is July 1. I think they're looking into date options at the moment, but that will certainly be another opportunity for the brothers to pick up where they left off," he said. Things have been delayed this long already, what's another few months for Harry to make it?
There's Another Diana Tribute at Kensington Palace This Summer
If the statue unveiling date does get postponed, there's at least one other tribute to Diana happening for her 60th birthday. As part of the summer exhibition open to the public at Kensington Palace, Diana's iconic wedding dress will be on display — complete with its giant 25-foot train. The exhibit is open to guests now.
And Diana Will Be Honored With a Plaque
And there's reportedly another Diana tribute coming later this year. According to the Evening Standard, the English Heritage charity, which recognizes historical monuments and buildings, plans to put a blue plaque outside Diana's old apartment in London. She lived in the Earl's Court flat before marrying Prince Charles, and it's where the paparazzi would frequently stalk her.
