Princess Diana statue to be unveiled at Kensington Palace next year

Sculpture to be installed on what would have been her 60th birthday

A new statue has been commissioned by the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex to commemorate their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

It will be installed on what would have been her 60th birthday, Kensington Palace has announced.

The palace said the installation has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but that it will be placed in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace on 1 July 2021.

Prince William and Prince Harry have previously said now is the right time to recognise their mother’s positive impact “in the UK and around the world”.

(Rex Features)

In a statement when the project was announced, the brothers said: “Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.”

The statue was created by renowned artist Ian Rank-Broadley, whose portrait of the Queen appears on all UK coins.

Monday 31 August marks 23 years since Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris, when William and Harry were only 15 and 12 years old.

Previous monuments to the Princess of Wales include the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park.

The memorial, built with 545 pieces of Cornish granite, was opened by the Queen on 6 July 2004.

The royal parks website says: “The design aims to reflect Diana’s life, water flows from the highest point in two directions as it cascades, swirls and bubbles before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom.

“The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London’s water table...the memorial also symbolises Diana’s quality and openness.”

A bronze figure of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed was also placed in Harrod’s department store in west London – it was removed in 2018 after 13 years on display to the public.