Poignant Meaning Behind The New Princess Diana Statue’s Oddly Specific Outfit

On the day Princess Diana would have turned 60, a memorial statue was unveiled in her honor. And Princes William and Harry came together to celebrate the moment — even though they’re still said to be feuding. But as all eyes were on the brothers, one thing was overlooked. The outfit the statue is wearing has some real meaning behind it. And you’ll be surprised by its poignancy. 

The commission

The statue itself? That was commissioned by the brothers in early 2017 — so, a few years before Harry and William’s rift began. And the princes explained why they’d given the artwork the go-ahead, saying, “It has been 20 years since our mother’s death, and the time is right to recognize her positive impact in the U.K. and around the world with a permanent statue.” 

The hunt for an artist

“Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy,” William and Harry continued. First thing first, though, they had to find the right person for the job. It had to be a sculptor who could perfectly capture Diana’s likeness — and that particular outfit, too. 

The selected artist

The search didn’t take long. Ian Rank-Broadley got the nod — perhaps because he’s the guy who created the famous image of the Queen on British coins. And the brothers released a joint statement to the media talking about the choice. They also revealed what it meant for them to have reminders of their mother. 

Beautiful memories

William and Harry said in their statement, “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 U.K. and across the world — even 20 years after her death.” 

Changing times

“Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor, and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother,” William and Harry added. “We look forward to unveiling the statue.” But plenty would have changed by the time the pair met up to actually do this. 

A sad anniversary

It was during this same year that both princes opened up to the world about their mother’s passing. It had been 20 years since Diana’s sudden death, but judging by what William and Harry revealed, the wounds still felt fresh. And hearing them talk about their mom was harrowing. Even thinking about that statue — and its very specific outfit — may have been too much to bear. 

Her life and legacy

The documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy revealed the deep grief that both men still felt. William said on camera, “Losing someone so close to you is utterly devastating, especially at that age. There’s not many days that go by that I don’t think of her.” 

Saddening questions

Meanwhile, Harry said, “[Diana] smothered us with love, that’s for sure. There’s not a day that William and I don’t wish that she was… still around. And we wonder what kind of a mother she would be now, and what kind of a public role she would have, and what a difference she would be making.” 

Turning off emotion

That same year, Harry opened up about the mental health struggles he’d experienced following Diana’s death. Speaking on the podcast Bryony Gordon’s Mad World, he said, “I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years, has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well.” But at least he had someone in his corner to help him.

Much-needed support

Harry revealed that eventually he had “started to have a few conversations.” And it was William, he said, who had encouraged him to get therapy. The younger prince explained, “For me, my brother — God bless him — has been an enormous support.” Yes, at one time, the pair had a strong bond. When the time came to unveil the statue, however, that bond seemed to be broken. 

The exit

It all started — as far as we know — in January 2020. That’s when Harry and Meghan made the shock announcement that they were no longer going to be senior royals. And in the chaotic aftermath, William and Harry’s brotherly relationship appeared to completely fall apart. 

William’s rage

At the time, an insider said to The Sun that William was “incandescent with rage” about the bombshell decision. Then a few days later, The Sunday Times reported that William had told a friend, “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives, and I can’t do that anymore. We’re separate entities.” It was sad to hear — especially when you consider all the two had gone through together. 

Major differences

Harry told his side of the story during that much-publicized interview with Oprah. He said, “My father and my brother, they are trapped [within the royal family]… They don’t get to leave. I love William to bits, he’s my brother, we’ve been through hell together... but we’re on different paths.” 

High emotions

That was the energy in the air when the two brothers met to unveil the statue, complete with its distinctive outfit. It was a big moment in both their lives: honoring the mother who had loved them so much. And while both men were too professional to let any bad blood get in the way of the event, you had to wonder how they were really feeling. 

Reunited

Harry also traveled to Kensington Palace separately from his brother. If media reports are to be believed, he was driven there by a member of his new press team. And, apparently, Harry and William only reunited mere minutes before the statue was set to be unveiled in the Sunken Garden. 

The guest list

But that could have been because there were other guests at the event for William and Harry to greet. That would have kept them busy. Their uncle Charles Spencer and aunts Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale were present. Some of Diana’s friends were also there. And, of course, Ian Rank-Broadley had been invited, too. 

Hugs and kisses

The princes seemed very friendly indeed with their aunts and uncle, and there didn’t seem to be any animosity towards Harry as they all hugged and kissed. But because the event was so private, it was up to lip-readers and body language experts to work out what was going on between the brothers. 

Read my lips

Lip-reader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Star that he thought he knew what the princes were saying. After being told how to remove the statue cover, Harry apparently remarked to William, “We will be okay.” Then William supposedly said in response, “I didn’t want anything to go wrong. It’s important we unveil it right.” 

Display of unity

The signs looked good on the body language front, too. That’s according to Judi James, who said to the Daily Mirror, “They could have opted for a chilly distance with just a few curt words exchanged, but instead William and Harry took the decision to show a display of unity.” How did she know this? 

Comforting rituals

Well, James went on, “There were clearly some signs of inner tensions, but the self-comfort ritual that was Harry’s wedding ring fiddling and William’s jacket-patting and touching were all normal traits for both brothers.” And, she told the newspaper, there were definitely some notes of hope for the brothers’ strained relationship. 

Moments of hope

“There were moments of eye contact between them — and with no obvious changes of eye expression or face-dropping that might suggest suppressed enmity,” James said of Harry and William. “Instead, Harry’s wide, horizontal grin looked so much like the old, playful Harry before the rift. And William’s rounded cheeks and rather more puckered lips suggested genuine pleasure.” Could their estrangement finally be coming to an end? 

The details

In any case, the unveiling seemed to go well, and both William and Harry appeared happy with the statue. It was a tribute laden with meaning, after all. The sculpture depicts a casually dressed Diana accompanied by three young children. Touchingly, it looks as though she’s interacting with the kids in a caring, motherly way. 

Diana’s clothes

And while the “clothes” on the statue may look pretty ordinary, they, too, appear to hold extra meaning. The media was quick to notice that the outfit looks very much like the one Diana wore for her 1993 Christmas card. That was the first she had posed for after splitting up from Prince Charles, and she made sure to involve the young William and Harry in the picture. 

Diana the mother

It’s very possible that the statue’s outfit — a pleated shirt paired with a skirt and belt — was a deliberate choice by William and Harry. After all, the sculpture depicts Diana as a caregiver more than a princess or a celebrity. It could be that the two went back over old outfits to decide which one represented Diana best. Maybe they even did so together. Perhaps the brothers would mention this after unveiling the statue? 

Remembrance

Well, if William and Harry had carefully chosen that outfit, they kept that information to themselves. In a joint statement — released to the media after the statue was revealed — they said, “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength, and character. [They were] qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.” 

Thank-yous

“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,” the princes continued. “Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, [Sunken Garden designer] Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.” 

The Palace’s statement

Kensington Palace also released a statement about the statue, and that explained the outfit a little further. “The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales, is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of the princess’ work,” it said. “The portrait and style of dress was based on the final period of her life as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes, and [it] aims to convey her character and compassion.”  

Diana’s impact

But if any royal fans were expecting the artist himself to speak out on the outfit, they would have been disappointed. At least he was gracious about Diana and her legacy. Speaking in a statement, Ian Rank-Broadley said, “Diana, Princess of Wales was an icon who touched the lives of people right around the world, so it has been a privilege to work with Prince William and Prince Harry on this statue... We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations.” 

The criticism

But did the acclaimed sculptor succeed in his aim? Well, there was a bit of a mixed reaction from art critics once the statue had made its debut. The Guardian’s Jonathan Jones slammed it as “a spiritless hunk of nonsense” — and that was just for starters. 

Larger than life

Jones went on to say that the statue “stands in an awkward, stiff, lifeless pose and has a face that’s more manly than I remember, modeled apparently with thickly gloved hands and no photo to consult.” Ouch. But it seems that at least one photo must have been consulted for the outfit. 

Religious imagery

The critic went on, “It is a religious image that shamelessly plays up to the most mawkish aspects of Diana worship. She deserves to be remembered. But does she need to be turned into a colossal divine protectress of all children? If that is how Harry and William think of her, that’s up to them. But this looks like the art of a new religion.” Other commentators were kinder, though. 

A ghostly image

The Independent’s Mark Hudson wrote of the statue, “The symmetrical arrangement brings a medieval feel, while there’s a strong sense of Victorian philanthropy in Diana’s majestic magnanimity. The Queen in People’s Hearts has become the mother of children everywhere. And there’s a moving and slightly eerie sense of an image glimpsed beyond the grave.” 

Diana’s fashion

Other critics weren’t happy about the choice of outfit given to the statue. Alastair Sooke, writing for The Daily Telegraph, called the chosen clothes “kitsch.” That said, he also conceded, “For die-hard fans [of Diana], [the statue] will suffice.” 

Not a fan

Rachel Campbell-Johnston also criticized the shirt and skirt combo in her review for The Times. She wrote of the Diana statue, “She stands, arms outspread in the pose of a traditional religious Madonna. But instead of flowing veil and falling robes, she is wearing a somewhat frumpy 1980s outfit.” Oh, dear... 

Fixing the feud

Hopefully the statue’s mixed reception wasn’t too hard on William and Harry, as they very much did what they set out to do. They unveiled the statue of their mother while acting as a family unit. It may even have been the first step in repairing their relationship for good. 

Finding Freedom

There’s a hint that bridges may eventually be mended. Royal experts Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand made waves in 2020 with their book Finding Freedom — apparently an inside look at Harry and Meghan’s break from the royal family. And an updated version, released a year later, included more details about the Diana statue ceremony as well as a quote from an unnamed friend of the prince. 

Continuing the legacy

The friend apparently said that William and Harry were “deeply devoted to carrying on their mother’s legacy, and no amount of hurt feelings would ever get in the way of that. It is an absolute priority. And even amidst this other stuff, they simply wouldn’t proceed without one another together.”  

Bonding time

That wasn’t the only good news. Not long after the ceremony, another supposed insider told Us Weekly, “William and Harry spent the morning before the statue unveiling looking through old keepsakes, notes from Diana, and bonding. They have absolutely turned a new page in their relationship and have started the healing.” 

Hopeful news

The source added, “Everyone around [William and Harry] was thrilled to see how close they were on the day of the statue unveiling.” So that’s good news for those who want the brothers back together like they used to be. Hopefully they’ll spend the next big anniversary bonding over their mother as well. Or maybe the release of Prince Harry’s memoir in 2022 will be enough to push what's left of their relationship over the edge. William does seem to be very protective over his family, after all.

The narrative

In September 2021 royal expert and author Duncan Larcombe referenced the upcoming book in an interview with OK! magazine. “William and Kate are concerned about absolutely everything that comes out of America in regards to Harry and Meghan — especially Harry’s tell-all warts and all memoir that’s gonna hit the shelves sometime next year. They have no control over the narrative.” Indeed, at the time of writing, no one knows yet what the memoir might reveal.

Camilla joins the fray

But some believe the memoir won’t focus on William, but Camilla instead. Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell told Closer magazine in September 2021, “After the reports she was involved in his parents’ marriage and then stepped into Diana’s shoes as Charles’ wife, I suspect Camilla will be in his sights...”

Christening crisis

Allegedly, the royal family didn’t want Harry and Meghan to come to the U.K. to christen their new baby, either. NBC royal correspondent Neil Sean claimed in late September, “One of the bigger problems that Meghan really encountered... later is that she wanted her daughter — Lilibet Diana — to be christened in the place she was married alongside her husband Prince Harry.”

Refusal

Neil said that Harry and Meghan “were very keen to make that return and make sure that christening happened — particularly in front of Her Majesty the Queen.” Though according to one of his sources, “Prince William was the one who basically said, ‘No, we don’t think this is going to work.’”

Style battles

And some might say a fashion war is brewing between Meghan and Kate. The former’s style has noticeably changed since she left the royal family, and this became obvious when Meghan appeared in New York City come September 2021. Suddenly, she was wearing pants rather than skirts and dressing like a businesswoman rather than a traditional duchess.

The golden dress

But mere days after Meghan’s New York appearance, Kate Middleton arrived at the No Time to Die movie premiere wearing an absolutely stunning golden gown from Jenny Packham. It was one of the sexiest things she had ever worn, and her fans went wild. Though was it a deliberate attempt to upstage Meghan?

Revenge dressing?

Australian journalist Daniela Elser wrote on News.com.au in September 2021, “This frock was a very audible statement, which, to channel the Goopy argot of the Sussexes’ California, [was] about Kate stepping into – and owning – her power.” She also said, “This was a declaration of intent and a very apparent power move on Kate’s part.”

Exiled

Clearly, things are not going great in the royal relationships we used to know and love. It’s duchess versus duchess and prince against prince! Rumor has it that Meghan may not return to the United Kingdom ever again, and that if she does there’s one person in particular who won’t be welcoming her back.

Never forgiven

This particular bombshell came out in 2021, as the dust was still settling on Harry and Meghan’s dramatic exit from royal life. An insider source told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that the whole incident had been “really hard” for Charles. And they added, “I don’t think the duchess will ever forgive Meghan for what she’s done to the Prince of Wales.”

Camilla’s past

Some might have thought that was surprising coming from Camilla. After all, she was once in a similar position to what Meghan is in now. When she first married into the royal family, Camilla too had to deal with the media scrutinizing her every move.

Love triangle

Admittedly, Camilla started off in a totally different way. She was Charles’ mistress while he was still married to Diana. The prince was in love with her since before the marriage, but allegedly she wasn’t considered a suitable match for the heir to the throne. Diana, on the other hand, very much was.

Anti-divorce

It was only after Diana died that Charles was able to marry Camilla. But there was controversy over the wedding because both participants had been divorced. The Church of England — which the Queen is head of — discourages divorce. Meghan faced a similar problem after Harry proposed to her because she had previously been married as well.

The specter of abdication

There were some discouraging articles about Meghan leading up to the wedding. In 2017 the Daily Express declared, “[The] last time an American divorcee married a royal it didn’t end well!” This, of course, referred to the time King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. But the Harry-Meghan wedding went ahead just fine.

Bread rolls as weapon

Camilla was able to weather her own controversial entrance into the royal family, but it took work. Everyone knew she was the woman Charles had cheated on Diana with, and they initially hated her for it. Someone even allegedly threw bread rolls at Camilla while she was shopping in a supermarket!

Meghan versus the step-mother-in-law

Gradually, though, Camilla was able to settle into the royal family and even win a level of popularity within it. After all, people have said that in person she’s a very nice lady. Yet once Meghan had made her stance clear, Camilla seemingly turned her back. Or perhaps there was bad blood between them anyway?

Stealing the spotlight

Back in March 2020 the Daily Mirror published a story claiming that Camilla and Meghan had fallen out. This was apparently down to Meghan breaking a “pledge not to steal the limelight from a long-planned domestic violence speech.” Royal family insiders filled journalists in on the alleged feud, and it seemed like a bad one.

Camilla’s big day

Apparently, Camilla had been planning an important speech about domestic violence for the 10th anniversary of the Women of the World Festival. But on the day she delivered it, photos of Meghan at the theater appeared in the press — upstaging Camilla. And it’s claimed that Meghan had ordered for the photos to be published on purpose after promising not to.

Other ideas

An insider told the paper, “Camilla’s work is very important to her and her decision to highlight the scourge of domestic violence at the 10th anniversary of Women of the World was a carefully thought-out plan. They added, “Of course, it was known Harry and Meghan would be doing engagements this week, some privately, but everyone was in agreement that Camilla’s speech should take precedence. Unfortunately, some people had other ideas.”

A source of support

Yet things weren’t always like that between the two women. Another anonymous insider told Vanity Fair magazine back in 2018, “They clearly really like each other. There is real warmth and support. Camilla has been very helpful to Meghan.” The latter and Harry also “very much felt and appreciated” Charles and Camilla on their wedding day.

Meghan versus Kate

Allegedly, in those early days Camilla actually got along better with Meghan than she once did with Kate. In May 2019 a source told the International Business Times, “[Camilla] was warm and welcoming from the start, and as a result, [she] seems to have a slightly better relationship with Meghan than with Kate.”

Not okay

And Camilla was apparently supportive when Meghan first revealed that she was struggling as a member of the royal family. In the 2019 ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she had been left “not really okay” by the constant press intrusions and attacks.

Meghan’s difficulties

A source told Vanity Fair magazine at the time, “I think Camilla was probably just as surprised as anyone else when the documentary came out and perhaps didn’t realize how much Harry and Meghan were suffering.” They went on, “[Camilla] doesn’t want to see anyone struggling and she is fond of Meghan and she could be a very good ally, too.”

Cultivating relationships

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith also told the magazine, “Meghan could learn an enormous amount from Camilla. I think Camilla is genuinely a kind person and while there are many differences between the two of them, they have both been on the receiving end of some very negative press. The thing Camilla learned was how to cultivate a relationship with the press.”

Charles’ anger

Sadly, all that seems to be ancient history now. Some are convinced that Harry will outright slam his stepmother in the book he has coming out. Paul Burrell told Closer magazine, “He’s already said he enjoys [TV show] The Crown, which painted Camilla as the ‘wicked stepmother’ in a way. Charles will be livid if he does go there.”

Damaging documents

An anonymous source seems to think so, too. They told the Daily Mail newspaper in July 2021, “Let’s be honest, Harry has never been close to the Duchess of Cornwall. If he documents their fraught relationship in the book, it could be very damaging at a time when Charles is laying the groundwork for her to become Queen.”

Camilla’s role

Naturally, we won’t know for sure until the book comes out. But in the meantime, the Daily Telegraph’s source had this to say of Camilla in 2021. They alleged, “It is not an exaggeration to say she has been [Charles’] rock throughout this crisis. She has been the one who has kept him on track. It was really hard for him.”