A Statue Symbolizing Princess Diana's Legacy Is Unveiled To Commemorate Her 60th Birthday

A memorial statue of Princess Diana has been unveiled to commemorate her 60th birthday.

She would have turned 60 this year, but as history would have it, the "People's Princess" passed away 24 years ago in a tragic accident, leaving her family, and the rest of the world, much too soon. 

Though the memory of her untimely passing lingers in the hearts of many, something much brighter and more hopeful eclipses the sense of loss. On Princess Diana's 60th birthday, her life and legacy are at center stage once more; the milestone brings back memories of her greatest achievements and shows just how much her work as a modern royal and a humanitarian continues to influence the lives of so many until this day.

On Princess Diana's birthday on July 1, a truly special event was held in her honor.

A statue of the princess was unveiled at Kensington Palace's sunken garden, one of the princess' favorite places. The statue shows Princess Diana in one of signature looks flanked by two children. The princess was known to be devoted to children's causes and was an assistant kindergarten teacher before she married into the royal family. 

Princess Diana's siblings (her brother Charles and two sisters Sarah and Jane) were among the main attendees of the occasion, but what made things incredibly heartwarming was seeing how Princess Diana's sons, William and Harry, led the day. 

"Today, on what would have been our Mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better. Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy," reads the official statement from the brothers. 

For those not in the loop of royal news, it was a big deal to have the princes reunite in such a ceremony.

Since 2020, reports of a falling out between Prince William and Harry (who is technically no longer a prince, at least as far as titles and responsibilities he must fulfill go) have dominated headlines. It all began with the controversial decision Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, made about stepping away from royal life in favor of becoming regular citizens, then permanently moving to the United States at that.  

Worsening the situation was when Harry and Meghan participated in a series of interviews with Oprah Winfrey this year and painted the royal family in a less than flattering light (insinuations of racism, emotional neglect, and family feuds were made). 

With all eyes on William and Harry on the day their mother's memory was being honored, everyone was pleased to see nothing but pleasant interactions between the pair.

The Queen and Prince William's wife, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, as well as Meghan Markle were not in attendance. 

With the popularity of Netflix's historical fiction series The Crown, the royal family has faced renewed interest from the public. The latest season introduced Princess Diana to the cast and showed an interpretation of the beginning of her life as a young royal, leading up to an impending separation between her and Princes Charles after 15 years of marriage.

In season 5 that's slated to come out next year, fans of the show will see the remainder of Princess Diana's life post-royal marriage play out. 

Though Princess Diana's younger son Harry has stepped away from royal life, her eldest William is third in line to the throne and is expected to one day become king. 

Lead photos from @dukeanduchessofcambridge @ronitzilkha