A new statue of Princess Diana was unveiled today on what would have been her 60th birthday.
Taking pride of place in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in London, the statue was commissioned four years ago by Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The private event to reveal the statue also marked the first time that the pair have met in person since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Phillip.
The statue was designed by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, who is most well known for creating the effigy of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II that appears on all UK and Commonwealth coinage.
Work to re-design the Sunken Garden was overseen by Gardens & Estates Operations Manager, Graham Dillamore, who knew Princess Diana. Landscape architect Pip Morrison also played a huge part in the redesign, which has reportedly taken 1,000 hours to complete.
Take a look at the Sunken Garden redesign.
In a statement released by Kensington Palace, Dillamore said:
“While she was in residence at Kensington Palace, Diana, Princess of Wales regularly admired the changing floral displays in the Sunken Garden and would always stop to talk with me and the other gardeners who cared for it.
Over three decades later, I’m honored to have been part of the team preparing the garden for the installation of this statue. We’ve incorporated a number of the princess’s favorite flowers into the design, and I hope that visitors to the palace and gardens will enjoy its peaceful setting, and take a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of the princess.”