Prince William and Prince Harry came together and issued a rare joint announcement in honor of their late mother, Princess Diana.
The royal brothers revealed on Friday, Aug 28, that their mother's long-awaited statue at the Kensington Palace gardens will finally be installed in time for her 60th birthday on July 1, 2021.
The brothers said that Princess Diana's statue should help her loyal followers "reflect on her life and legacy." The announcement comes just days before the Princess of Wales' 23rd death anniversary on Aug. 31.
According to reports, the statue's installation was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. First announced in 2017, senior officials in Kensington Palace commissioned artist Ian Rank-Broadley to design the monument following her 20th death anniversary. Rank-Broadley is also the same artist who made Queen Elizabeth's image for the British coins in 1998.
Prince William and Harry worked with a committee for this garden project, which included Lady Sarah McCorquodale, their mother's sister, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, their mother's former chief of staff. Once completed, the statue will join many other memorials for Princess Diana, including the Kensington Palace Diana Memorial Playground and the White Garden.
Meanwhile, the brothers' joint statement marks the first time since Prince William and Harry made a show of force amid their rumored rift. Prince Harry is currently living across the pond in Santa Barbara, California with Meghan Markle and their son Archie.
According to the biography Finding Freedom, it was the Duke of Sussex's intention to separate from his brother since he no longer wants the path laid out for him as the spare to the heir of throne. The brothers' feud was complicated by Harry's relationship with Meghan. William allegedly cautioned his younger brother about his romance moving too fast, while Harry took offense over William's insinuation, calling Meghan "that girl."
Sources close to the brothers said that it will take some time for the brothers to settle their rift. In the book Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand said that, more than being angry at each other, Prince William and Harry are both hurting.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex hasn't been back in London since the middle of March due to the coronavirus travel restrictions. Sources, however, said that the royal has plans to still visit home again, along with Meghan Markle, since they have work with other charities and patronages.
