Harry and William to install Princess Di statue to commemorate her 60th

It’s no secret that things between Prince William and Prince Harry have been somewhat strained lately, what with Harry moving to California and all of the other royal drama that has gone down this past year. But when it comes to matters of their late mother, the brothers remain as unified as ever.The pair came together on August 28 to release a joint statement and to give an update on the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, that they first commissioned three years ago on the twentieth anniversary of her death. Since then there have been some delays at the design stage and further delays because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the brothers confirmed the statue will now be installed next year on what would have been the princess’s 60^th birthday.[video_embed id='2015657']RELATED: Elizabeth Debicki cast as Princess Diana in ‘The Crown’[/video_embed]“The statue was commissioned to mark the twentieth anniversary of her death and recognize her positive impact in the UK and around the world,” reads the statement. “The statue will be installed in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace on 1^st July 2021, marking The Princess’s 60^th birthday. The Princes hope that the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on their mother’s life and her legacy.”

An update from Princes William and Harry about the statue of their late mother. #Diana pic.twitter.com/t3ktOCRt7L

— Majesty/Joe Little (@MajestyMagazine) August 28, 2020

Artist Ian Rank-Broadley was hired by the brothers to craft the statue following his effigy of the Queen that has appeared on UK and Commonwealth coins since 1998. “Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother,” the brothers said in 2017 when the work was first announced. "We have been touched by the kind words and memories so many people have shared about our mother over these past few months. It is clear the significance of her work is still felt by many in the UK and across the world, even twenty years after her death."The Sunken Garden was planted in 1908 in a space that previously housed potting sheds. It’s based off the garden at Hampton Court Palace and features a pond and fountains crafted from 18^th century water cisterns. In 2019 the garden was transformed in order to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. In other words, it’s a highlight for citizens and tourists alike, and a perfect place to pay tribute to the woman who impacted the world in so many ways during her short life.Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles were married from 1981 to 1996. Diana died a year after their divorce. She was 36 years old when she was in that fatal car crash that happened while her driver was escaping paparazzi in Paris. Before that tragic day she became beloved by people around the world for breaking down the walls between the royals and the people of Britain, for helping to change the perception of HIV/AIDS, and for regularly visiting children in the hospital and those in homeless shelters. Of course she was also widely recognized for her charity work; at one point she was the patron of more than 100 charities.Following Diana’s death, The Princess Diana Memorial Fund was set up to help allocate all of the donations that people sent in. By the time it closed in 2012 more than £100 million had been distributed across more than 470 organizations. In March 2013 The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry took legal ownership of the fund in order to continue donating any future income to charities. However earlier this year it was revealed the brothers had signed paperwork to separate the charity’s funds and that they now make donation decisions independently of each other.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Nine royal wedding gowns we’ll never forget[/video_embed]