Diana, Princess of Wales: Statue Unveiling - July 1st 2021

[A-Bik]

Another poster mentioned this, about the events at the unveiling proving the stories about the speeches were wrong, but that is just not so, is it? In fact, the lack of speeches just as easily points to the stories being exactly right.

It could easily be that two speeches were planned, but if one brother was unwilling (or unable) to share the contents of his or participate in rehearsals, a decision was made to scrap the speeches for this ceremony, delaying them until later this year when relations may be better, or else getting rid of them altogether.

We just don't know, but the fact that no speeches were given this week certainly does not demonstrate that there were no speeches planned and difficulty encountered- and in fact may go to show the opposite.

Yet, it could easily be that the report of speeches was erroneous from the beginning.
I base my opinion on the fact that 'reporter' has gotten so much wrong, in the consistent search of royal exclusives.

For instance, there were a plethora of stories post Prince Philip funeral, - both positive & negative, - of summits, snubs, conciliatory meetings, letters e.t.c
All bannered as exclusives which we now know never happened - in some cases straight from the horses mouth.
Some examples:
The Countess of Wessex flat out stating that contrary to reports of angry snubs, she did indeed have a lengthy conversation with Harry after the funeral;
KP telling Robert Lacey in his updated tome that there was no Frogmore meeting;
Sussex people telling Scobie there was no letter to Prince Charles;
Et cetera.

Prince Harry has just landed back in the US and already a new 'exclusive' from the same sources of when he'll be back.

I mean, Harry's 2021 WellChild Awards was moved from the usual Sept to this surprise July date, - an event no paper actually knew was happening beforehand - due to Harry's unavailability later this year.
Yet the Sun now has the exclusive of him and Meghan's Sept calendar.?

I get it, it sells.
I see it as simply the pattern of so-called never ending exclusives who correctly see how this royal drama continues to sell and they will mine for eternity.
But there are only so many tales of zoom meeting, alleged phone calls, supposed face time, returns that will keep 'reuniting the brothers', till the trope is played out.
So yeah I have my doubts on the truth level here.

I notice The Sun report is careful to say Harry may return in Sept, giving them an out.
It's a win for them.
Now the statue unveiling passed without event, there can still be more will they/won't they royal 'exclusives' to eke out till the Autumn.

 

[Denville]

Its possible that Harry will return.. if travel is simpler I think that they may want to have a bigger ceremony than was possilbe on 1 July.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The Telegraph has released two opinion piece on the Diana statue. One of them was very scathing and most criticises contemporary public art. The second article is less so with some credits given to Ian Rank-Broadley.

The Diana statue proves it – Britain’s public art is at an atrocious low
Banal, naff, Diana’s dignity eclipsed by narcissistic sentiment – this statue is everything that’s wrong with British public art today
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/architecture/diana-statue-proves-britains-public-art-atrocious-low/
Archived link: https://archive.ph/4VGFE

Kitsch and archaic, the Princess Diana statue is a people-pleasing dud
Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of the late Princess of Wales is neither great art nor a good likeness. But for die-hard fans, it will suffice
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/wha...ic-princess-diana-statue-people-pleasing-dud/
Archived link: https://archive.ph/Ox5Ti

The Times gave the Diana's statue 2 out of 5 stars, where the commentary is not exactly highly complimentary either

Princess Diana statue review: Laura Ashley monument is little better than the usual tat
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...iew-every-note-grips-and-fascinates-pdw867mgs
Archived link: https://archive.ph/OASf8

And all this from the Torygraph and the royalist Times, which speaks volumes on how lukewarm this statue is received.

 

[Denville]

Its not all that surprising... Most modern art is terrible.. and Diana's beauty was not IMO suited to a statue....
ANd it took ages for the statue to be done...

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

The Telegraph has released two opinion piece on the Diana statue. One of them was very scathing and most criticises contemporary public art. The second article is less so with some credits given to Ian Rank-Broadley.

The Diana statue proves it – Britain’s public art is at an atrocious low
Banal, naff, Diana’s dignity eclipsed by narcissistic sentiment – this statue is everything that’s wrong with British public art today
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/architecture/diana-statue-proves-britains-public-art-atrocious-low/
Archived link: https://archive.ph/4VGFE

Kitsch and archaic, the Princess Diana statue is a people-pleasing dud
Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of the late Princess of Wales is neither great art nor a good likeness. But for die-hard fans, it will suffice
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/wha...ic-princess-diana-statue-people-pleasing-dud/
Archived link: https://archive.ph/Ox5Ti

The Times gave the Diana's statue 2 out of 5 stars, where the commentary is not exactly highly complimentary either

Princess Diana statue review: Laura Ashley monument is little better than the usual tat
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...iew-every-note-grips-and-fascinates-pdw867mgs
Archived link: https://archive.ph/OASf8

Thank you so very much for posting these articles from reputable sources as well as the archives so that those of us without subscriptions can read them!

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

These three anonymous random chosen children seem to depict Diana's charitable work. But children are quintessentially the core of all charities traditionally expected of any royal lady. It is not specifically Diana. Or they must think about her activities in a Kindergarten before her engagement, but then this clashes with the chosen clothes and hairstyle which were at the end of her life.

By hindsight, a spectacular new lush green park, named after Diana, giving Londoners new opportunities in that overcrowded metropole was a better choice.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Meaning behind Three children in the Princess Diana statue

 

[King of the Jungle]

I love the garden. The people who designed and planted it are very talented.
The statue appears in a perfect setting.

 

[Sandy345]

These three anonymous random chosen children seem to depict Diana's charitable work. But children are quintessentially the core of all charities traditionally expected of any royal lady. It is not specifically Diana. Or they must think about her activities in a Kindergarten before her engagement, but then this clashes with the chosen clothes and hairstyle which were at the end of her life.

By hindsight, a spectacular new lush green park, named after Diana, giving Londoners new opportunities in that overcrowded metropole was a better choice.

I don't think they would use images of Lady Diana with those kindergarten children, this was the time she had just become known to the public. Diana had so many charity interests it would have been difficult to capture them all in one statue (unless they just included just Diana instead of children around her). I doubt they would use images of her work on the Land Mine Campaign, after the divorce. The statue is not perfect but I think Diana should have one dedicated to her.

 

[EllieCat]

I think the chap who did the recent statue of the Bee Gees on the Isle of Man captured the likeness of them much better than the chap who did Princess Diana, which I felt didn't really get to the core of her at all.

 

[Leopoldine]

I like the spirit of the statue. Diana surrounded by children is a proper representation.

The contemporary clothing may seem jarring, as most statues we see feature nude bodies or clothing from bygone eras. However, I'll get used to it.

 

[Elan]

I like the spirit of the statue. Diana surrounded by children is a proper representation.

The contemporary clothing may seem jarring, as most statues we see feature nude bodies or clothing from bygone eras. However, I'll get used to it.

Interesting point..well demonstrated by cemetery statues of a few hundred years ago.

https://pinterest.com/pin/58124651414043992/

 

[TLLK]

One week until the private reception at Kensington Palace to celebrate the Diana statue's unveiling and to thank the donors. The Duke of Cambridge, Sir Elton John and members of the Spencer family are to be in attendance.

 

[Mirabel]

By hindsight, a spectacular new lush green park, named after Diana, giving Londoners new opportunities in that overcrowded metropole was a better choice.

They might have to take a corner of an existing park to do that.
London is very crowded.

 

[Sandy345]

I hope Diana's friends Rosa Monckton and Carolyn Bartholomew are among the guests at the party.

 

[TLLK]

The Cambridges attend the evening private reception for the donors who contributed to the creation of the statue.

CC Tuesday: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge this afternoon held a Reception in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace to mark the unveiling of the Statue of Diana, Princess of Wales.

I hope Diana's friends Rosa Monckton and Carolyn Bartholomew are among the guests at the party.

Reportedly the guests included family, friends and former staff, but I don't know if a guest list will be released.



https://www.townandcountrymag.com/s...m_campaign=socialflowTWTCO&utm_source=twitter

On July 1, on what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday, Prince’s William and Harry unveiled the statue they commissioned together in her memory. Then, just 14 guests including Diana’s siblings attended the event that was scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, this evening a larger gathering was held in the sunken garden of Kensington Palace, which is believed to have included Diana’s friends and former staff as well as donors who supported the statue's creation

 

[TLLK]

A little information on the KP reception and reportedly many of Diana's seventeen Godchildren were present.



https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16515768/prince-william-nod-to-harry-in-speech/amp/

A source said: “It was very intimate and sweet.
“There was a real family feel as many of Diana’s 17 godchildren were also there.
“William made a brilliant speech saying thank you from him and Harry and how happy they both were with the statue.

 

[Elan]

In the span since the unveiling.. of those that have since visited the gardens in person, have some elevated their opinion on what was regarded at first, somewhat dull, lackluster outcome ? Time can often change perspective.

 

[Denville]

In the span since the unveiling.. of those that have since visited the gardens in person, have some elevated their opinion on what was regarded at first, somewhat dull, lackluster outcome ? Time can often change perspective.

I dont thiink anyting will improve that statue