The brothers unveiled the statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday.
LONDON, UK — Princes William and Harry unveiled a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday Thursday in a small — and brief — ceremony at London’s Kensington Palace.
Diana’s family joined the two brothers for the ceremony at the palace’s Sunken Garden, a place in which the princess once found solace. It was the first time the brothers have appeared in public together since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip.
The brothers later issued a joint statement in which they described their mother’s strength and character as “qualities that made her a force for good around the world.”
“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 said.
RELATED: William, Harry to unveil Diana statue as royal rift simmers
RELATED: Diana legacy lingers as fans mark late royal’s 60th birthday
Below is the full statement:
“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.”