The royal brothers William and Harry came together to unveil a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, saying “every day we wish she were still with us”.
The ceremony was held in Kensington Palace’s redesigned Sunken Garden on the occasion of the princess’s 60th birthday.
Ever since the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in April, it was the first time the brothers appeared together.
“We remember her love, strength and character,” they said.
“Qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.”
They said they hoped the statue would “be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy” and thanked “all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive”.
The Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex were seen laughing and talking vigorously with guests. People applauded when they pulled off a green cloth covering the statue.
They also commented on the Sunken Garden which was redecorated for the occasion. This location was chosen because the Kensington Palace was said to be “one of the princess’s favourite locations” when she lived there.
Prince Harry talked a bit about his differences with Prince William since he stepped down from the royal duties last year.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March, he confessed that the two were on “different paths”.
Further, in May, he spoke about how his family was reluctant to talk about his mother’s death. Moreover, he was expected to “suffer” in silence.
He also confessed how he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope up with the pain of losing his mother.
Currently, Prince Harry is living in the US with his wife and their two children. They arrived in the UK last week so that their quarantine period would be complete before Thursday’s event.
The Event
The event was quiet and intimate with just a handful of guests – Prince William, Prince Harry, Diana’s two sisters, her brother and members of the statue committee.
William and Harry walked out together into the Sunken Garden. Harry, in particular, spent time with his two aunts and uncle in vibrant conversation.
None of the brothers spoke publicly at the event. Hence, there were no speeches and fanfare.
The event was professional and friendly showing no obvious tensions behind the scenes. The brothers even laughed as they did preparations to unveil the bronze statue.
They don’t want the day about them especially about their broken relationship. Instead, they wanted it to be about their mother and her legacy.
