Kensington Palace at the request of her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and
Prince Harry.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, when William and Harry were 15 and 12, respectively.
In a press release published on Saturday by the official Kensington Palace Facebook account, the Princes stated that a committee has been chosen to commission
and privately raise funds for the creation of the statue.
This committee
will advise on the selection of the sculptor and will work with
Historic Royal Palaces on the statue’s installation in the public
gardens at Kensington Palace. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry said:
“It has been twenty years since our mother’s death and the time is
right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world
with a permanent statue.
“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.”
While the sculpting of the statue will
begin soon, it is not currently possible to advise when it will be
unveiled. It is hoped that this will occur before the end of 2017.
Further announcements on the statue’s sculptor and design will be made in due course.
