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


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Not really a fan of the statue. I don't mind the children since it represents her charity work, but the statue itself looks rather odd. The color is very ugly and the face is wrong (doesn't look like Diana at all). The only good thing about it is the legs.
 
I am sure it winds up the Sussex squad no end that the three children in the Diana statue could, with some artistic liberty, be interpreted to be the Cambridge three!
 
To regard the three children in the statue grouping as Diana’s Cambridge grandchildren would be pretty far fetched indeed, and I don’t know anyone who thinks they are. Have you taken a look at the little boy’s hair? I think he is meant to be a young African boy, to commemorate Diana’s humanitarian work on that continent.
 
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Frankly Im not sure i'd have known it was Diana, if I hadn't known it already. It does not look much like her....
 
muriel said:
I am sure it winds up the Sussex squad no end that the three children in the Diana statue could, with some artistic liberty, be interpreted to be the Cambridge three!
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I think that is a bit of a reach. Though I am seeing quite a few royalist complain that they included a boy who is clearly has African feature on the statue.
 
I found that Lady Sarah seems to have aged quite considerably. I hadn’t seen her for some time but she is looking much older and a bit frail to me. Although I could still see that feisty character that she always was.
 
IMO, the statue would be vastly improved if Diana had been depicted smiling. Not crazy about the big belt buckle either, but all in all, the statue's not too bad. W & H seem to be happy with it, and that's what matters. Nice that the event was semi-private. Is Harry still in the UK, or has he left already?
 
Expression on the statue looks too serious. She should have had a contented look on her face.
 
I'd say her manner is grim, rahter than serious. It just isn't Diana....
 
muriel said:
I am sure it winds up the Sussex squad no end that the three children in the Diana statue could, with some artistic liberty, be interpreted to be the Cambridge three!
Click to expand...




Wow! That would take a great deal of artistic liberty considering that all three of the children depicted appear to be about the same age. Also one of them is clearly of African descent, so that wouldn't be one of the Cambridge children.
 
I've read a comment on German news from the artist saying the children are to symbolise her legacy into future generation , if in her family or wider circle is left to personal interpretation.
I think this makes sense.

I agree to what Kataryn wrote about the big bustier, though I like the statue this is what irritates me it looks too big indeed compared to Diana's silhouette.
 
valeas said:
I've read a comment on German news from the artist saying the children are to symbolise her legacy into future generation , if in her family or wider circle is left to personal interpretation.
I think this makes sense.

I agree to what Kataryn wrote about the big bustier, though I like the statue this is what irritates me it looks too big indeed compared to Diana's silhouette.
Click to expand...

I thought it was to symbolise her work with children and her love for them...it wasn't about her as a mother...
 
I like the arrangement of figures in the statue but Diana is too hefty. She was always so svelte and elegant but this statue makes her look like a body builder.
 
Diana always wore figure flattering outfits. THe outfit of the statue had a large belt which was not flattering to her. She had so many lovely sheath dresses which would have been better for the statue.
 
While I'm not a fan of the huge belt buckle ;), it would seem to me that her sons have a strong emotional attachment to this outfit and that is why they approved the version.After all they were the ones who lived with Diana and saw her evolution over time. It's possible that Diana herself viewed it as one of her ensembles that made her feel confident and self-assured. This is possible a post-divorce outfit that she would wear to private work meetings with her charities. It's definitely not one of the "princess at a day engagement" that were strongly associated with Diana during her years as a senior royal.



I believe that her sons did not want her portrayed during her years in her former role, but as she was in the last year of her life. If they're content and pleased with the final outcome, then that's what is most important IMO.
 
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In the photo from the Christmas card Diana's blouse folds vertically not horizontally actually looking baggy. She looks so feminine in the card photo. I don't think this outfit actually worked for Diana because in the card photo the buckle is huge and would be so uncomfortable when sitting in various places. I think it was a poor choice of an outfit. The arm holding the boy in front is so long it doesn't fit with the rest of the statue.
I read some where Harry possibly said "I don't understand." and I don't either.
 
Royalist.in.NC said:
Here is the Christmas card where she is wearing that large belt buckle. Click on the photo to see Harry as well on the left.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1410623767856955395
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Very interesting to see the pic that was an inspiration for the statue, and i think it shows clearly how finely 'cut' and slender Diana's features were (i don't know the right english word for it); the statue seems a bit bigger as others have pointed out, especially noticable in the buste and lower face areas, which indeed makes it look like a different woman from some angles.

That said, i like the spirit of the statue, and i like that is isn't sugary sweet (like for instance some artworks of P.Grace) but still a clear tribute to Diana's legacy :flowers:
 
:previous: I'm glad to see another vantage point showing the third child. The three children "represent the universality and generational impact of the Princess' work". We can also see Diana wasn't a stranger to wide belts, blouses and pencil skirts.

Princes' William and Harry knew their mother best, they commissioned and signed off on the statue. I'm going to assume they are pleased with the work. Despite the photos and videos it's not quite the same as actually being there in person. I think Diana's statue will survive the test of time.
 
I think that after this latest one, no more attempts at statues or portraits... they just never get it right.
 
Somebody said:
That Christmas card indeed looks like the inspiration for Diana's outfit for the sculpture; however, why didn't he also use her hair in that picture. Looks much better than what he made of it.
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I don’t think a statue could do justice to Diana. She was more charismatic than classically beautiful and the sort of charisma she had was based on the way she moved - she had an expressive face, and there was something about how she walked, gestured, etc, that drew the eye. The attraction she held can be seen with video, photography or a well done portrait but I don’t think even a fantastic statue or sculpture could succeed at really bringing it out.
 
ACO said:
Apparently the rumored second celebration is a go. The Sun reporting Harry (and maybe Meghan) will return to UK in 10 weeks.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15482768/prince-harry-return-to-uk-meghan-ten-weeks-diana/
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Christ, Harry only just left and the tabloids are already desperate for his return!?

I can't see Meghan returning to the fold anytime soon, not with all the bad blood & words.

This is just tabloid wishful thinking, cause Meghan generate clicks.

Anyway, The Sun has gotten so much wrong - see their 'exclusive' about William & Harry's speeches at the Diana statue unveiling, speeches that never happened :ermm::ermm: - that this is bucket of salt time.
 
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My reaction when I first saw the statue was instinctive revulsion. It reminded me too strongly of the works of "socialistic realism" which my country is choked full of. William and Harry have given their approval and that's what matters but given the fact that a statue is an expression of something, to me this one was a miss. It's strange because the Josephine Baker one was amazing, there was so much life and vibrancy in it.
 
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
 
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A-Bik said:
Christ, Harry only just left and the tabloids are already desperate for his return!?

I can't see Meghan returning to the fold anytime soon, not with all the bad blood & words.

This is just tabloid wishful thinking, cause Meghan generate clicks.

Anyway, The Sun has gotten so much wrong - see their 'exclusive' about William & Harry's speeches at the Diana statue unveiling, speeches that never happened :ermm::ermm: - that this is bucket of salt time.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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