Diana, Princess of Wales will long be in the hearts of many of us so it's not surprising that there are plenty of Princess of Wales statues and memorials dedicated to the memory of the late Princess.
This year marks 25 years since her tragic death, and many Diana fans from across the globe will be remembering the People's Princess for her generous charity work, grace and memorable quotes. If you're keen to pay your respects on this anniversary year, here are some of the memorials worth a visit.
Princess of Wales statues and memorials
To mark what would have been her 60th birthday, a statue of Princess Diana was commissioned by the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex. The statue was installed in the garden of the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021 to coincide with her 60th birthday.
It was first commissioned in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of her death and "recognise her positive impact".
The statue, which has been approved by the brothers, was created by artist Ian Rank-Broadley, whose portrait of the Queen appears on all UK coins.
The statue shows her surrounded by three children (if you look closely there is another child to the back). It's located in the middle of the Sunken Garden which has recently been redesigned. In the garden you'll find plenty of forget-me-nots which were Diana's favourite flower. There's also a paving stone in front of the statue featuring an extract from the poem 'The Measure of a Man by Wallace Gallaher'.
Visiting Kensington Palace
You can find the latest opening and closing times of Kensington Palace here. If you're keen to visit inside the palace as well as the gardens this summer, you'll need to book a ticket in advance. You can book tickets for Kensington here.
Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
This memorial fountain dedicated to Diana is located in Hyde Park and was opened by Queen Elizabeth IIJuly 6, 2004. It contains 545 pieces of Cornish granite and is designed to reflect Diana's life. The water flows from the highest point in two different directions before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom of the fountain. The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London's water table. There are three bridges over the fountain where you can cross to visit the middle of the fountain.
Walk the Diana Princess of Wales memorial walk
Take a seven-mile memorial walk around London's Royal parks, stretching across Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James's Park in a figure-eight pattern. The walk follows 90 plaques set in the ground featuring a rose emblem.
The walk was officially opened June 30, 2000 to celebrate Diana's love of open spaces.
Diana's 60th birthday celebrations
Last year was what would have been Diana's 60th birthday and there were a number of exhibitions and celebrations to commemorate the occasion.
Princess Diana's wedding dress went on display
In addition to the statue, Princess Diana’s wedding dress also went on display at Kensington Palace last summer for the first time in over 25 years.
Diana fans were able to see the unforgettable silk taffeta wedding dress with its sequin-encrusted 25ft train up close in the Royal Style In The Making exhibition which ran from Thursday 3, June until January 2022.
The spectacular dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel for Diana for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.
2021 Legacy Awards
In honour of Diana's birthday, it was announced that the 2021 Legacy Awards — which feature The Diana Award — would be held at her family's home of Althorp House, hosted by Lord Spencer, brother of Princess Diana.
Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive, The Diana Award said: “Hosting the Legacy Awards at Diana, Princess of Wales’ family home is especially poignant as we mark what would have been her 60th birthday. In a year that has seen young people’s lives disrupted by the Pandemic it is even more important that we honour, celebrate but also invest in those young people from across the world, who through their selfless trailblazing efforts have changed lives in their communities.”
The Diana Award organisation was created in 1999 with the aim of paying tribute to young people who "work to improve the lives of others." It was just one of many charitable causes Princess Diana worked on.
Charles Spencer on Diana's birthday
Lord Spencer, Diana's brother, spoke out about his sister's 60th birthday.
"It's so funny to be of an age now where your slightly older sister's 60. It will be an emotional day, but it will be a tribute to a much-missed and much-loved sister and mother."
He also shared that on special occasions such as her birthday and Mother's Day, he goes to Diana's gravesite and leaves flowers. "I do go a lot, and it's an oasis of calm, and it's a lovely place to go,"