William and Harry reunite for Diana
But is it a ceasefire or a permanent declaration of peace?
If Diana couldn’t bring them together, then nothing could. Prince William and Prince Harry were the image of unity on Thursday as they stood side by side at Kensington Palace, to unveil the statue of their mother. Kerry covered the event for The Telegraph - here’s a taste of what she wrote:
Together for the first time since April, William, 39, and Harry, 36, couldn’t fail to be moved as they stood in the garden of their childhood home, a place that held as many memories for them as the 4000-strong flowers they had planted to honour their mother’s 60th birthday.
And, like the storm clouds that cleared for the occasion, the brothers put aside any animosity and appeared warmer towards one another, as they unveiled the bronze statue of Diana with children, by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. William and Harry talked earnestly and Harry laughed and joked with his relatives, almost like old times.
Unlike previous occasions, the brothers released a joint statement after the private event. “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better,” they said. “Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.” They also thanked “all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.”
Crowds had gathered outside Kensington Palace from early in the morning and festooned the gates with floral and pictorial tributes. But despite originally planning to have 100 guests, it was changed to a private family gathering, with Diana’s brother Charles, Earl Spencer and sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, as well as the statue committee, sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, garden designer Pip Morrison and Chair of Historic Royal Palaces, Rupert Gavin.
The bronze statue shows Diana surrounded by three children which, according to Kensington Palace, represents “the universality and generational impact of The Princess’ work.” Diana is depicted in her later years, wearing a blouse, skirt and wide belt, her arms around the children. Her sons wanted, they said, to show the confident woman she had become at the end of her life. “We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations,” said Ian.
In front of the statue, sits a paving stone engraved with an extract of the poem The Measure of A Man, which was read out at her 2007 memorial: “These are the units to measure the worth/Of this woman as a woman regardless of birth. Not what was her station? But had she a heart? How did she play her God-given part?”
The statue has been strategically placed to overlook the gardens Diana spent so much time in, when she lived in Kensington Palace. The brothers also redesigned the garden, filling it with flowers she loved, including 100 forget-me-nots – Diana’s favourite - 300 tulips, 500 lavenders, 200 roses, 100 dahlias and 50 sweet peas and the design took gardeners two years to complete.
Both Meghan and Kate were absent – Meghan remained in California having given birth to daughter Lilibet only a month ago and Kate subsequently stayed away, according to royal insiders, keen not to “unbalance” the event. But she is reportedly central to the improved relations between the pair, who texted each other while Harry was in the UK, bonding over England’s football success.
“I think she is the peacekeeper,” Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell told Good Morning Britain. “She’s the person that is going to pull these boys back together. She knows that William wants this to work out,” he said. “Their mother would want them to stand together.”
Earlier in the week, it was reported the Queen had extended an invitation to Harry and Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to attend her Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year. If they accept and return to the Royal Family they have been so critical of, then it could prove the final reconciliation. “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022 will see the largest gathering of members of the Royal Family for quite some time. It is inconceivable to think that Harry, Meghan and their children won’t be among them,” says Joe. “By then, the difficulties within the family may well have been resolved or an acceptable compromise reached.”
Will it heal their rift?
They came together to unveil a statue in memory of their mother – but will it be enough to heal the brothers’ stony relationship? Kerry shared her thoughts with The Daily Telegraph. Here’s an extract:
As William and Harry united in Kensington Palace gardens to mark what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday, the ceremony was the first time the warring brothers had been together since Prince Philip’s funeral in April. They looked relaxed and happy - Harry laughed and joked and it almost seemed like old times.
So will it mend the rift between William and Harry, following Harry and Meghan’s explosive revelations on Oprah? Possibly, but it won’t happen quickly, says the UK Telegraph’s royal reporter, Camilla Tominey. “We are overstating it if we think this one event can somehow bring them together after what has been an extremely fractious few years and with their relationship still nowhere near what it was,” she says. It’s not clear if this is a ceasefire or permanent declaration of peace.
Long-term, royal commentators say, William will have to “rise above it” like his grandmother, the Queen, has done for a lifetime, while Harry needs to show he is open to reconciliation, stop lobbing truth bombs and sharing private conversations afterwards to the American press. “They are brothers who are united in their love for their mother. I think the ceremony will help a little in mending the rift between William and Harry, but any type of healing will be erased if conversations they have get leaked, as other conversations have been in the US media,” says Brittani Barger, deputy editor of Royal Central.
England’s lucky mascot
Move over Harry Kane! England secured an historic win over Germany in the Euro 2020 last-16 game this week (2-0 if you’ve had a very big sleep), but it was an adorable Prince George who stole our hearts. Joining Mum and Dad for his first big match at Wembley, the seven-year-old was William’s mini-me, dressed in a matching suit and tie. Catherine wore a patriotic red £59.99 blazer from Zara. Snap it up here.
George, who shares the same name as the patron saint of England, was spotted looking a bit shy singing the anthem dedicated to his great-granny. Maybe Ed Sheeran, sitting a few rows behind the royals (with wife Cherry and David Beckham) could have helped him sing along. George is a massive footie fan and his first live match was seeing his dad’s team Aston Villa against Norwich City in October 2019. Then when he turned six, that same year, he was snapped by Mum in his Three Lions T-shirt.
Now with England back at Wembley for a semi-final against Denmark on Wednesday, footie fans will be crossing all fingers that George – unofficial royal lucky mascot - is up for a late night. C’mon Wills and Kate, it’s George’s last week of term after all…
Visit these blooming lovely royal gardens
Seeing Diana’s statue in Kensington Palace’s remodelled Sunken Garden inspired us to sniff out four other fabulous gems for idyllic trips throughout the summer.
Buckingham Palace, London
Pre-pandemic you would have had to be invited to one of Her Majesty’s famous tea parties to check out her 39-acre garden (complete with lake – its island is home to the palace’s bees), but now the grounds are open to everyone and picnics are permitted. Adults £16.50. Open for pre-booked visits at Royal Collection Trust, July 9 – Sep 19.
Hillsborough Castle, County Down
This Georgian mansion is the official residence of the Queen in Northern Ireland and boasts a walled garden and another 100 acres featuring a rose garden, pinetum, a Victorian temple, rides and walks. Adults £14.20. Open Wed- Sun. Book at Historic Royal Palaces.
Highgrove, Gloucestershire
Prince Charles is the king of gardeners and Highgrove his labour of love. There are so many things to see (The Stumpery) but one must-see is his award-winning Carpet Garden based on a Turkish carpet inside Highgrove. Adults £29.50. Tours (with or without champagne) can be booked until mid-September at Highgrove Gardens.
Balmoral, Aberdeenshire
Strictly speaking this is a private residence but until August 2 you can visit and soak up its spectacular scenery. Enjoy the planted walks through the woods, plus the formal and walled gardens created since Queen Victoria first fell in love with the place. Adults £15. Book at Balmoral Castle.
Not quite the Queen’s cup of Bru
If she built up a thirst during this year’s Royal Week tour of Scotland, the Queen wasn’t showing it as she politely declined a sip of Irn-Bru, while touring its factory with Prince William. Diplomatically stepping in as royal Bru-taster, William said it was ‘delicious’. He then revealed that Scotland’s famous soft drink slogan had not passed him by, declaring: “You can taste the girders in it.” He’s our royal Irn-Man!