[ad_1]
- Hamish Mackay
- BBC
published photo, Dominique lipinski
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, and The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, unveiled a statue of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, on Thursday for what was to be her 60th birthday.
The event is William and Harry’s first appearance together since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April.
The statue, commissioned by the brothers in 2017, can be found in the redesigned Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.
published photo, Reuters
The princes said at the time that they hoped the statue would help visitors to the palace “reflect on his life and legacy.”
Harry, who lives in the United States with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex and two children, arrived in Britain last week to complete quarantine procedures ahead of Thursday’s event.
published photo, Reuters
Photos commemorating Princess Diana were seen outside Kensington Palace on Thursday
On Wednesday, the prince paid a surprise visit to the awards ceremony of the charity (Will Child) for children with serious illnesses in the UK.
In addition to the two princes, members of Diana’s family attended the unveiling ceremony.
Members of the committee that oversaw the construction of the statue and the overhaul of the palace garden were also present.
Well-known sculptor Ian Rank Broadley, who has a proven track record in creating statues for the royal family, was also among the guests to sculpt the statue.
published photo, Kensington Palace
The statue is in the Sunken Garden, which has been redesigned at Kensington Palace
published photo, John Swannell / Photographic press
Earlier, a knowledgeable source said the party – which has been reduced due to restrictions imposed to counter the spread of Covid-19 disease – will be a “small event and a very personal time for the family.”
Kensington Palace has declared Sunken Garden to be “one of the Princess’ favorite places” when she lived at the palace.
Over 4,000 flowers were planted as part of the overhaul of the garden, which required 1,000 hours of work.
The park, located in London’s famous Hyde Park, will open free to the public from Friday.
published photo, PA Media
Princess Diana with her two sons in 1993 at Thorpe Park in Surrey
Speaking about his mother’s death in a recent interview, Harry said he was about to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse to overcome the pain of losing her.
He also spoke of his family’s reluctance to talk about the death and how he was expected to “suffer” in silence.
These comments, among a series of others, came in the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step down from their posts in the Royal Family in early 2020.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in August 1997, when Prince William and Prince Harry were just 15 and 12 years old.
published photo, PA Media
Princes William and Harry with their mother on a visit to Niagara Falls in 1991
Ian Rank-Broadley is no stranger to royal sculptures, his sculptures of the Queen have appeared on all UK and Commonwealth coins since 1998, and another of him from the Queen has appeared on a plaque from the High Court in Parliament Square in London.
Earlier this month, a limited-edition £ 5 coin commemorating the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, sculpted by Rank Broadley, was unveiled. The coin features a portrait of Prince Philip on Armed Forces Day.
published photo, Royal Mint
A sculpture of Prince Philip featured on a limited piece, by Rank Broadley
Two of his sculptures – a group of soldiers carrying stretchers carrying a wounded soldier and another group caring for a wounded comrade – can be seen at the Staffordshire National Monument Arboretum.
His other works include a statue of a machine gun on the Monument to the Royal Anglican Legion at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
published photo, PA Media
A sculpture of Broadley – a group of soldiers carrying stretchers carrying a wounded soldier – can be seen at the National Monument Arboretum
Source link
