Princess Diana statue unveiled

Princess Diana statue unveiled

A monument of the late Diana Princess of Wales will be unveiled at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021, to mark what would have been her 60th birthday. However, what was meant to be a big gathering with over 100 people has now been drastically cut back, citing COVID-19 safeguards as the reason. Even Diana’s ex-husband, Prince Charles, is said to have been dropped off the guest list.

Diana’s family members, including Prince William and Prince Harry, will only attend the event apart from the sculptor and garden designer. Later they announced that William’s wife Kate Middleton would not even be present for the ceremony, and a royal family source is calling her absence, quote, “telling on many levels.” 

In recent months, Kate Middleton has acted as a mediator for her husband, Prince William, and his brother, Prince Harry. During Harry’s latest rift, the brothers feuded with his family, who relocated to the US and blasted them on TV.

The brothers hadn’t seen one other in almost a year until Prince Philip’s burial in April. Kate might act as a “peacemaker” between the two princes during the event to avert any possible outbursts. Kate is well-suited for the part because she is said to have a tight relationship with her brother-in-law.

Catherine’s absence says a lot. I believe that keeping the numbers low is an excellent ‘reason’ for Catherine to stay away. William is tired of the drama, and Catherine does not need to be drawn into it. They are arranging a private family vacation with their children, which is far more essential than the public discourse.

The royals are also said to be upset about Prince Harry’s narrative about the family, which he and Meghan have continually spoken about in recent months, including the claim that Kate once made Meghan cry. That William is “trapped” in the institution, and an allegation that there were “concerns and conversations” about how dark their son Archie’s skin might be when he’s born.

A royal source told the Telegraph, “The question for [Prince William] is whether he can override the short-term pain and damage to get back to the place he once was with his brother. It’s complicated when the trust has gone.” Without an informal mediator in place, Prince William and Prince Harry will have to navigate any interpersonal tension independently. 

Of course, they’ll put on a brave face for the occasion, just as they did for the Duke of Edinburgh’s burial. They are both aware that it is not about them but about honoring the late princess. However, it was pointed out that, while the royal brothers will almost definitely put their differences aside to commemorate their mother, a full-fledged resolution between them is unlikely.