Gransnet forums

Chat

Diana’s statue

(302 Posts)
Bluebellwould Thu 01-Jul-21 16:01:54

I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this odd lump of horrible coloured metal. The clothes don’t seem to suit her as I remember her but perhaps it’s just my aged recollection. Still as long as her sons are happy with it, that’s all that really matters. Is the statue going to be on public display?

JaneJudge Fri 02-Jul-21 08:27:47

It looked much nicer on the video footage, I thought. I did laugh that it was by water though. I do hope no one chucks her in..

MawBe Fri 02-Jul-21 08:38:56

Not a great piece of sculpture.
However watching the unveiling I was so much reminded of the final scene of A Winters Tale, where the statue of Hermione “miraculously” comes to life as it is unveiled, and she and Leontes are reconciled.

Just imagine if Diana could have spoken to her sons…..

honeyrose Fri 02-Jul-21 08:44:38

Disappointing. My first instinct was that I expected the children in the sculpture to be William and Harry as children and surprised when one figure was a girl. A third child is almost hidden - what’s that all about? Is it supposed to be Diana as a classroom assistant when she was very young? If so, the face and figure are too mature for that. It perhaps would’ve been better if Diana was sculptured as a single figure then maybe more effort could have been put into Diana looking like Diana. I do hope the two Princes like it though and that this unveiling will go some way to help heal the rift between them.

Calendargirl Fri 02-Jul-21 09:21:44

Yes honeyrose.

I have posted on the Royal thread that I think a statue of Diana alone, not flanked by random anonymous children, would have been better.

But hey-ho, nothing to do with any of us really.

aggie Fri 02-Jul-21 09:24:41

It’s so morose ! If they had made them more serene , obviously not inane grins , but why so sad ?

honeyrose Fri 02-Jul-21 09:32:47

Sorry - got it wrong in my earlier post! Diana was a nursery nurse/nursery assistant when she was very young (19 or so). Also, the children in the sculpture-that-doesn’t-quite-cut-it are older children than nursery age.

rubysong Fri 02-Jul-21 09:39:11

Hard to believe it is the work of Ian Rank-Broadley. I've seen images of some of his work and the faces are so moving and beautiful. This is awful, has anyone been monitoring it as it went along?

sf101 Fri 02-Jul-21 09:50:59

I agree with a lot of the previous comments, it looks very manly and facially nothing like her I was very underwhelmed by it.

lavenderzen Fri 02-Jul-21 09:51:43

It looks awful, what a disappointment. Her sons were involved so hopefully they are happy with it. I hope so.

lemongrove Fri 02-Jul-21 09:58:57

Whilst being a good work of art, it doesn’t look like or capture the essence of Diana does it?
The children represented are puzzling too, with slightly ragged clothing and bare feet ( she wasn’t Mother Theresa!)

NanKate Fri 02-Jul-21 10:05:10

Rather disappointed with the sculpture.

I too was expecting William and Harry to be either side of her. I suspect the boy, who appears to be maybe African by his hair, to have been included to show diversity, but of course I could be wrong.

Callistemon Fri 02-Jul-21 10:10:25

Shropshirelass

No, we weren’t impressed either. Nothing like Diana, looked like a frumpy old Nanny with random children. Such a shame.

She does look old, doesn't she.
Yet she was only 36 when she died

JenniferEccles Fri 02-Jul-21 10:13:03

I agree aggie. The facial expression is all wrong isn’t it?
Surely a skilful, experienced sculptor (which presumably he is) would have been able to capture something of the essence of Diana?

Why wasn’t she looking happy?

I think there’s something very sad about the whole statue, but maybe we are expecting too much as a sculpture can never be as true to life as a painting.

Caleo Fri 02-Jul-21 10:13:36

I prefer equestrian statues.

RosesAreRed21 Fri 02-Jul-21 10:32:49

I was disappointed as I had thought it was going to be better than it was.

JacquiG Fri 02-Jul-21 10:35:00

Rubbish. She was a slender, elegant and classy woman, not a frumpy big busted housewife in a cardigan. That's me, Not her.

Lostmyglassesxx Fri 02-Jul-21 10:35:17

Based on her last official Christmas card outfit
Statues are never great

Jens Fri 02-Jul-21 10:35:22

Awful, just awful. Doesn’t look like her and what’s with the children? Is that Harry peeking out fr9m beh8nd.
So muc( hype fo4 such a disappointment. Total waste of money

SiobhanSharpe Fri 02-Jul-21 10:36:12

Clunky. Not very attractive.

polnan Fri 02-Jul-21 10:36:12

Perhaps I am the only one here, but I just don`t like statutes of people,, dead people, not dissimilar to grave stones.. but that`s just me.

would have preferred a decent portrait.

jaylucy Fri 02-Jul-21 10:36:44

No statue would be able to capture that special way her face lit up when she smiled.
I actually think that it makes her look older, or maybe that is the point that it should portray her as it is thought she would look at 60?
Whatever anyone thinks, as long as "her boys" and family are pleased, how can anyone else complain?

Wizzywoo Fri 02-Jul-21 10:37:32

She looks real, happier and not dolled up to the nines and somewhat anorexic.

coastalgran Fri 02-Jul-21 10:38:30

I am not sure why there seemed to be a need for the statue in the first place and a complete remodelling of the Kensington Palace garden around it, a bit of a waste of money that could have been put into a charity or bursary in her name for young people. It's not as if either of her sons are going to visit it on a regular basis, more of a shrine for her fans many of whom are now getting on in years.

thinkfree Fri 02-Jul-21 10:39:54

I don't think it looks like her and certainly does not capture her warmth and vulnerability. I hope Harry and William are happy with it.......

Sheilasue Fri 02-Jul-21 10:40:01

Beautiful.