Vincent McAviney: 'We wish she were still with us'; Feuding Harry, William reunite at Diana memorial
Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Newstalk ZB
July 1, 20213m 35s
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Show Notes
Prince Harry and Prince William almost look as though they've buried the hatchet, putting on a united front to celebrate their late mother's 60th birthday early Friday (NZT).
The feuding brothers smiled and laughed with each other as they arrived together at Kensington Palace, looking to be in high spirits as they greeted a small number of guests at the unveiling of Princess Diana's memorial statue.
It was an emotional day for the family of Diana - who died in 1997 - with her beloved sons releasing a rare joint statement shortly after the ceremony.
"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," it read.
"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."
Britain's Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana, on what woud have been her 60th birthday. (Photo / AP)
The bronze statue, made by Ian Rank-Broadley, depicts Diana with her arms around two children with another little boy following behind.
The statue towered over the brothers as they revealed it to the world surrounded by 4000 of her favourite flowers.
Beneath the commissioned piece, a project which the brothers had been working on since 2017, a plaque reads: "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 Diana statue has been unveiled at Kensington Palace. Underneath it is a paving stone engraved with: ‘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?’ pic.twitter.com/VIFIuUKOgB— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) July 1, 2021
Prince Charles was not present at the ceremony, which was changed to a "private event" instead of the large celebration to mark Diana's life as originally intended.
The move to scale back the unveiling was largely due to bad blood between the brothers and Harry's determination to control media coverage - it was only broadcast after it was over and the Duke of Sussex was leaving.
The feuding brothers smiled and laughed with each other as they arrived together at Kensington Palace, looking to be in high spirits as they greeted a small number of guests at the unveiling of Princess Diana's memorial statue.
It was an emotional day for the family of Diana - who died in 1997 - with her beloved sons releasing a rare joint statement shortly after the ceremony.
"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," it read.
"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."
Britain's Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana, on what woud have been her 60th birthday. (Photo / AP)
The bronze statue, made by Ian Rank-Broadley, depicts Diana with her arms around two children with another little boy following behind.
The statue towered over the brothers as they revealed it to the world surrounded by 4000 of her favourite flowers.
Beneath the commissioned piece, a project which the brothers had been working on since 2017, a plaque reads: "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 Diana statue has been unveiled at Kensington Palace. Underneath it is a paving stone engraved with: ‘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?’ pic.twitter.com/VIFIuUKOgB— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) July 1, 2021
Prince Charles was not present at the ceremony, which was changed to a "private event" instead of the large celebration to mark Diana's life as originally intended.
The move to scale back the unveiling was largely due to bad blood between the brothers and Harry's determination to control media coverage - it was only broadcast after it was over and the Duke of Sussex was leaving.
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