Is THIS the card that inspired Diana statue?

Is THIS the card that inspired Diana statue? Sculptor has commemorated Princess in belted pencil skirt and blouse identical to 1993 photo on first Christmas card she released after separation from Prince Charles

• Style of dress of Princess Diana’s statue at Kensington Palace is based on the final period of her life
• Outfit appears to be reminiscent of the pencil skirt and blouse ensemble donned on 1993 Christmas card
• Marked first time Prince Charles and Princess Diana each sent out their own festive card featuring themselves and their sons, Prince William and Harry

A sculptor has commemorated Princess Diana in a belted pencil skirt and blouse identical to the 1993 photo on the first Christmas card she released after her divorce from Prince Charles.  

Prince Harry, 36, was reunited with his brother Prince William, 39, at Kensington Palace where together they unveiled a statue of their beloved late mother on her birthday after a tumultuous 18 months for their own relationship.   

The portrait and style of dress is reminiscent of a number of ensembles worn by the royal – most notably the outfit she donned on the front of her 1993 Christmas card with sons Prince Harry and Prince William.

It marked the first time Prince Charles and Princess Diana each sent out their own Christmas card featuring themselves and their sons after they separated in 1992. 

While Prince Charles can be seen laying in the grass in the card he released, the late royal, wearing a frilly blue blouse and high-waisted navy pencil skirt, opted for an indoor portrait, with Prince Harry looking lovingly up at his mother, while she lovingly gazes down at Prince William. 

The Duke of Cambridge (left) and Duke of Sussex look at a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales

The bronze statue, which was sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley and is 1.25x life size, appears to be reminiscent of the outfit Princess Diana donned on the front of her 1993 Christmas card with sons Prince Harry and Prince William (pictured)

Princess Diana with her sons, Prince William (left) and Prince Harry at a photocall on the steps of the Marivent Palace during their summer holiday in Majorca, July 1988

The portrait and style of dress is based on the final period of Princess Diana’s life as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and aims to convey her character and compassion. 

In the later stages of her life, Princess Diana still stuck to some of the rules of royal dressing – opting for fabrics that wouldn’t crease – but liked to be able to grab something off the rail and go. It was her way of demonstrating her new-found independence. 

In one photograph from their summer holiday in Majorca in July 1988, Princess Diana, with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, can be seen on the steps of the Marivent Palace donning a flatting red pencil skirt and three-quarter length white blouse. 

On another occasion, during a trip to Egypt on May 12, the late royal opted for a pale blue pleated skirt featuring the same thick pleated belt, while a third example shows her wearing a lemon-coloured skirt and blouse as she walked with a 10-year-old boy whom she met on a visit to Cairo.   

It comes as Prince William and Prince Harry put their differences aside to unveil their statue of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The statue was commissioned by the brothers in 2017 to memorialise their mother and mark the twentieth anniversary of her death.  

Prince William and Prince Harry wanted the statue to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world, and help future generations understand the significance of her place in history.  

The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales is surrounded by three children (pictured) who represent the universality and generational impact of The Princess’ work

Princess Diana (pictured) donning a pale blue plated skirt with belt detail in Egypt on 12 May, 1992

Princess Diana and Prince Charles going back to Wetherby School, Notting Hill, London in January 1990

The unveiling took place at a small family event attended by The Princess’ siblings: The Earl Spencer, The Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and The Lady Jane Fellowes, in addition to the Statue Committee, the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, garden designer Pip Morrison and Chair of Historic Royal Palaces, Rupert Gavin. 

The statue aims to reflect the warmth, elegance and energy of Diana, Princess of Wales, in addition to her work and the impact she had on so many people. 

The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of The Princess’ work. 

Beneath the statue is a plinth engraved with The Princess’ name and the date of the unveiling. 

In front of the statue is a paving stone engraved with an extract after the poem The Measure of A Man which featured in the programme for the 2007 memorial service for The Princess:

‘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?

The Princess of Wales leaving the Royal Brompton Hospital in London in September 1995

The statue was cast by Castle Fine Arts Foundry in the traditional ‘lost-wax’ process with a patina of a bluish green over black. The cast is hollow and is supported by a stainless-steel armature.

Prince William and Prince Harry said: ‘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.

‘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.

‘Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.’

The sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley said: ‘Diana, Princess of Wales was an icon who touched the lives of people right around the world, so it has been a privilege to work alongside Prince William and Prince Harry on this statue which commemorates her life.

‘We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations. I hope that people will enjoy visiting the statue and the Sunken Garden, and taking a moment to remember The Princess.’

The statue is situated in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace, which was one of The Princess’ favourite locations. 

Princess Diana walking with 10-year-old Heba Salah whom she met during a visit to Cairo, Egypt on May 12 1992

The Princes hope that the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on their mother’s life and her legacy. 

Work on the garden began in October 2019, and since then five gardeners have spent a total of 1000 hours working on planting. 

The Sunken Garden was created in 1908 at the instigation of King Edward VII, in an area of the palace gardens previously occupied by potting sheds and greenhouses. 

The layout of the garden takes inspiration from the 17th century Dutch style Pond Garden at Hampton Court Palace.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 2017, the garden was temporarily renamed ‘The White Garden’ and planted with flowers in white and soft pastel colours, which took inspiration from items from The Princess’ wardrobe then on display in the palace.

The new design for the garden by Pip Morrison retains the historic structures within a simplified layout of deeper flower borders and a more generous lawn around the central pond to create a calmer and more reflective setting for the statue. The planting design features a number of The Princess’ favourite flowers, including forget-me-nots, as well as many other spring and summer blooms in a variety of pastel shades.

The garden and statue of Diana, Princess of Wales is arranged to be viewed from the Cradle Walk, an arched arbour of lime trees and will be free to view during the palace’s opening hours. 

Harry and Wills’ kisses for their aunts: Princes greet Diana’s sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes as they join Earl Spencer to unveil statue of their mother at Kensington Palace

Harry and Wills’ kisses for their aunts: Princes greet Diana’s sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes as they join Earl Spencer to unveil statue of their mother at Kensington Palac

Princess Diana’s siblings reunited at Kensington Palace today for the unveiling of their sister’s statue on what would have been her 60th birthday. 

Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 66, Lady Jane Fellowes, 64, and Charles, Earl Spencer, 57, joined their nephews Prince William, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, for the intimate ceremony in the remodelled Sunken Garden.  

The warmth between the princes and their aunts was clear as they greeted each other with an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Lady Sarah beamed as she held onto Harry’s shoulder and appeared to whisper something into his ear.

Later Prince Harry, who appeared excited throughout the event, smiled widely as he shared a light-hearted moment with his aunts and uncle Charles. 

It is not known when the Duke of Sussex last saw his aunts and uncle. He was last photographed with Lady Sarah and Lady Jane at his son Archie’s christening in 2019. 

The brothers have stayed close with the aunts and uncle. All three of Diana’s siblings were guests at both Harry and William’s weddings, while they were the also included on the guest list of just 25 at Archie’s christening.

William and Harry put aside their personal differences and stood shoulder-to-shoulder to unveil the bronze statue of their mother in the Sunken Garden, which became a place of solace for Diana before her death in 1997.  The garden was replanted with 4,000 of Diana’s favourite flowers in honour of the event.  

Kisses for their aunts: Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 66, left, beamed as she greeted her nephew Prince Harry, 36, with a kiss on the cheek in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Right, Prince William, 39, with Lady Jane Fellowes, 64

Lovely to see you! Prince Harry shared a light-hearted moment with his uncle and aunts during the short event this afternoon

Precious moments: The aunts, Princess Diana’s older sisters, looked delighted to see their nephews at the intimate event. The statue was unveiled in the Sunken Garden – one of Diana’s favourite spots – on what would have been her 60th birthday

Family time: Prince Harry chats to his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and uncle Earl Spencer at the unveiling of the statue today

Harry also spoke to Earl Spencer, his mother’s brother, at the Spencer-dominated event, shaking his hand

In good spirits: Earl Spencer, who oversees the family estate of Althorp, smiled as he chatted to Prince Harry today

The Duke of Sussex (centre) with his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and uncle Earl Spencer, making them laugh

The Duke of Cambridge (left) and Duke of Sussex look at a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales

Admiring: Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, Earl Spencer and Lady Sarah McCorquodale after the unveiling of the statue 

The statue, made by Ian Rank-Broadley, shows Diana with her arms around two children, and towered over the brothers as they revealed it to the world this afternoon.

During the engagement Harry clapped his hands with excitement before the sculpture was revealed. William appeared far more serious during the short ceremony and the awkward walk to the Sunken Garden.

In a joint statement released this afternoon, the brothers 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 added: ‘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.

‘Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.’  

 The Sunken Garden’s designer Pip Morrison was stood nearby and she could be overheard telling the royal brothers ‘It’s a collaborative effort’. When the two dukes got into place either side of the statue William said ‘ready?’ before they pulled off the cloth and the guests applauded.

The brothers smiled as at the same time they pulled away the green cover to reveal the bronze sculpture by Ian Rank-Broadley

The bronze made by Ian Rank-Broadley shows Diana with her arms around two children, and towered over the brothers as they revealed it to the world this afternoon.

A smiling Duke of Sussex after the unveiling a statue commissioned of his mother Diana

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling, putting aside any differences they’ve faced

Lady Sarah, Lady Jane and Charles, Earl Spencer, have all remained close to their nephews since Princess Diana’s death.

Charles and his wife Karen sat front row at Prince William’s 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton, with his three daughters and one son in the row just behind. In pride of place next to the Middleton family too was Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, while Lady Anne Wake-Walker, Diana’s aunt also had a place in the pew.  Harry was also seen chatting to his uncle before the ceremony.

The Spencers were also in attendance at Harry’s wedding to Meghan in 2018. 

In 2019, the Sussexes shared a photo of Archie’s christening, which showed the Duke and Duchess with their son and Lady Jane and Sarah alongside the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Doria Ragland,  The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. 

They didn’t attend the christenings of the Cambridge children, however neither did Charles’ siblings. 

Members of the statue committee who were tasked in 2017 with commissioning and privately raising funds for the creation of the statue stood nearby.

Lady Sarah was on the committee and her five colleagues included Diana’s close friend, Julia Samuel, who is a godparent of Prince George, and John Barnes, chief executive of Historic Royal Palaces, the charity which looks after a number of royal sites.

The committee was chaired by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, William and Harry’s former principal private secretary, and it also included Gerry Farrell, director of the Sladmore Gallery, which specialises in sculpture, as well as financier Guy Monson, a former trustee of the royal brothers’ charitable foundation.

Guests also included Kensington Palace head gardener Gary James, and Graham Dillamore, deputy head of gardens and estates at Historic Royal Palaces. Historic Royal Palaces chairman Rupert Gavin also attended.    

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