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

[Marengo]

Arms of Diana, Princess of Wales

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Additional note: this thread was created to discuss the unveiling of the statue of Diana, princess of Wales, which will take place on July 1st 2021 to commemorate the 60th birthday of the late Princess.

Analysis, opinion and sentiments about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be made in the Sussex-thread in the Sussex-forum, which you can find here.

[Denville]

is this defintiely going ahead now?

[Sandy345]

It looks that way.

[Sionevar]

Such a shame the statue is going to be unveiled while the Sussex Problem is ongoing. All the press reports and commentaries are going to focus on the body language between William and Harry. The actual statue is probably going to be relegated to second place.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Sionevar

Such a shame the statue is going to be unveiled while the Sussex Problem is ongoing. All the press reports and commentaries are going to focus on the body language between William and Harry. The actual statue is probably going to be relegated to second place.

I wish that it was happening at another time. But is there anything on Williams or Charles Spencer's social media to indicate that it definitely IS going ahead on 1 July

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by Denville

I wish that it was happening at another time. But is there anything on Williams or Charles Spencer's social media to indicate that it definitely IS going ahead on 1 July

With all the reports of Harry being in the UK and isolating at Frogmore Cottage with the Brookbanks, I would think that's a good clue that this will go ahead as planned on July 1st. Harry wouldn't just fly to the UK for that specific date unless there were reasons.

I just hope it goes smoothly, the statue is unveiled and the brothers make their speeches and don't give the media more fodder for the fire they've been building up recently with more "reports" on the "battle of the brothers".

The day should be totally about Diana, Princess of Wales without anything else overshadowing it.

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Sionevar

Such a shame the statue is going to be unveiled while the Sussex Problem is ongoing. All the press reports and commentaries are going to focus on the body language between William and Harry. The actual statue is probably going to be relegated to second place.

It is really unfortunate. A lot of the commentary at Philip’s funeral sadly focused on Harry and William. Or Meghan. But- the situation is what it is unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Osipi

I just hope it goes smoothly, the statue is unveiled and the brothers make their speeches and don't give the media more fodder for the fire they've been building up recently with more "reports" on the "battle of the brothers".







The day should be totally about Diana, Princess of Wales without anything else overshadowing it.

Hopefully- it will. I do think that if there are indeed 2 separate speeches- that’ll get commentary. Possibly starting with why there needed to be 2 to begin with. Then digging into the different messages.



It should be totally about her. But the media will be looking to pick at anything- good or bad- that they can.

[Mirabel]

Originally Posted by Denville

I wish that it was happening at another time.

Maybe there never will be a better time.

Or- maybe this event will be the impetus to achieve some sort of closure, if not reconciliation?

[Denville]

I just dont know if they're going to reconcile at present. I think they'll make a show of unity, but nothing major. I would love to see a really nice Monument to Diana, the fountain was a mess. The garden.. OK but not as nice as I'd hoped. So I hope the statue will really work. And its probably best to do the opening now and move on to other things... rather than wait for Covid to be completely over or the sons' problems to be less of an issue.

[Elan]

Since the fellow chosen for the project is well known for working in a thoroughly modern style, the assumption being, that we are about to witness.. new age thought provoking, modern interpretation of Diana. Rather than -- a traditional statue presented in classic form, quickly felt, understood in a basic, powerful way.

Modern day statues are capable of making quite the bold statement, reminiscent of the fountain, but imo the older statues are better in the area of aesthetics and easier on the eye. The world has moved on from that.

[Royalist.in.NC]

There is a very sweet video of Diana playing with both boys: https://www.newidea.com.au/princess-diana-statue

[Rayal]

Ian Rank-Broadley's Facebook page if you would like to see some of his work. Personally I find him to be a very good sculptor (and I'm very picky): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008492018989

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Rayal

Ian Rank-Broadley's Facebook page if you would like to see some of his work. Personally I find him to be a very good sculptor (and I'm very picky): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008492018989

Thank you for sharing. His work is incredible and I am very interested in what we'll be seeing on July 1.

[TLLK]

According to this article from the Daily Mail, the statue was completed in 2018 but was delayed due to a variety of reasons ie: The Sussexes' wedding.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ana-Covid.html

[Sandy345]

What I read is that Will and Harry were not happy with the original sculpt and disapproved of this (sketch or prototype). I would say this is the main reason for it not progressing.. They talked about the statue on the 20th Anniversary of Diana's death, 1997, and said it was "in the works."

[Sionevar]

The Daily Mail is now reporting that the unveiling will be a much quieter event than originally planned, because of Covid restrictions.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ana-Covid.html

The articles says the only guests will be William, Harry and their Spencer relatives. A larger ceremony will now take place in September.

No indication in the article if Kate will or will not attend.

[Rayal]

I think that many people will not be pleased with this sculpture, but only because they have seen hundreds and maybe even thousands of pictures of Diana, plus videos. Also an outside sculpture has to endure weather for hundreds of years, and so the skin may not have the softness and the aesthetic look of Diana's flawless beauty. To capture that is the sculptor's vision and what he will work hardest on. We will be long gone and her sculpture will still be sitting there, but hopefully with a look of happiness and not a trace of her tragedy.

[ACO]

So a bigger celebration in September? Maybe by then things will have cooled and both brothers can honor their mom surrounded by their families, the Spencers and close friends.

Harry was spotted by the Daily Mail at LAX Airport today, so he is on his way.

[ladongas]

Has anyone seen a sketch or a model of what the statue is to look like? All I can think of when I try to visualize it is the monumental statue of Queen Anne in the Long Library of Blenheim Palace. I know it won’t look like that, but I can’t help thinking of it.

[Curryong]

I don’t think anyone has seen it yet, apart from the sculptor and the Princes of course. If sketches or models were available the media would have leaped on it for sure. It will be interesting to see what sort of statue it is on the 1st July.