July 1st will mark the day that would have been the 60th birthday of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The ex-wife of Prince Charles, mother of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex, and a woman who became known as Queen of Hearts thanks to her unique place in the nation's affections, died in Paris in 1997. But this milestone will nevertheless be celebrated, with her sons masterminding a special event in London.
Prince Harry has recently flown into the UK, while a large box containing the statue has been placed ready for the unveiling. This is what you need to know before Thursday.
What is the Diana memorial statue?
It was commissioned by Diana's two sons, the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, in 2017, when they announced the work via a joint statement on the twenty year anniversary of her passing.
'It has been 20 years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue,' it read. 'We have been touched by the kind words and memories so many people have shared about our mother over these past few months. It is clear the significance of her work is still felt by many in the UK and across the world, even twenty years after her death... Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.'
Where is the Diana statue?
The statue will be placed in the Sunken Gardens of Kensington Palace, something of a haven for Diana during her time in the royal family, and will be revealed to the world by William and Harry on July 1st.
What time will the Diana statue be unveiled?
Kensington Palace has not yet confirmed the time of the unveiling.
Who designed the Diana memorial statue?
A royal statue needed someone with an understanding of the weight of proceedings, and that person was Ian Rank-Broadley. He sculpted the likeness that has appeared on coins since 1998.
'Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother,' the brothers said. 'We look forward to unveiling the statue, which will allow all those who visit Kensington Palace to remember and celebrate her life and legacy.'
Will Harry and William be at the Diana statue unveiling?
Yes, they will be. There has, of course, been some tension between the brothers ever since Harry left the UK and announced that he would step back from his royal duties. They did, however, meet at the funeral of their late grandfather, Prince Philip, and they will be united again for this occasion. Royal author Katie Nicholl says ‘his intention is to come back. It is really something William should not, and would not want to do on his own.’ It would be reasonable for a father of a newborn daughter to decide against a transatlantic trip, especially during a pandemic, but Harry is, apparently, resolute. A source tells Grazia that 'this day has been on his mind for years. He would not dream of missing an opportunity to pay tribute to a mother who he loved dearly, and while he no longer gives much thought to what others think of his actions, this is one thing that he makes an exception for: he would not give anyone the opportunity to suggest that he didn't care enough to come.'
Harry was seen at LAX airport last week. He is quarantining at the home of his cousin and friend, Princess Eugenie.
At this point, it is unknown if the brothers will speak or appear together.
Who will be at the Diana statue unveiling?
Originally, there were plans for one hundred guests to come together to mark the occasion. Due to covid restrictions, it will now be significantly smaller. Only close relatives of Diana will attend: her siblings and her children are thought to be the only attendees.
Will Meghan be at the Diana statue unveiling?
Her attendance is unlikely. Initially, Radar Online cited a royal source, reporting that she would fly in with Harry. However, this is no longer thought to be the case. 'Meghan is not going to travel. She has just had a baby and Harry will travel alone', a source told The Mirror. 'Meghan will not fly to the UK to join Harry for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother Princess Diana on July 1st,' reiterated ITV's Lizzie Robinson. 'A source confirmed after a US website claimed she would be attending.' She will, therefore, stay in Montecito with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
How tall was Princess Diana?
That may seem a strange question in this context, but it stems from the fact that some are wondering how tall the statue will be.
Diana was 5 ft 8, or 1.78 metres. Some found this confusing, as Diana always appeared to be shorter than Prince Charles in photographs even though he is also 5 ft 8. But official images simply presented him as taller via clever angles, presumably to establish his dominance as future king.
READ MORE: Those Angry That Meghan Won't Fly In For Diana Statue Unveiling Would Have Attacked Her Either Way