Diana’s statue

I think its awful. Doesn't capture Diana's beauty or her magnetism. Makes her thick waisted and hard-faced. Such a shame that it hasn't been done better and I'm surprised the Dukes okayed it. Maybe they had to as money had already been spent but if I was Diana looking down at this I'd have been disappointed.

Not impressed - she had a lovely smile- why not capture that

There are 3 children, one behind, representing the humanitarian work that she did for children worldwide. As a piece of art I do not like it, not the colour, nor the representation of her and the fact that so many of you were confused by the children, number, identity, significance etc shows that its conception is not working. I do think that the idea of honouring their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday, however, is lovely and I do hope that they are pleased.

No, it was frumpy and not very nice at all.

Gabrielle56

There's always one and you're it today. You don't sound like a grandma either?

Who is that comment meant for?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Not keen. Doesn't really look like her, bust too large, clothes rather odd. Bit of a mess really.

As with many statues it’s the viewer standing in front of it that will get the best view. I found this with the statue of David in Florence. It looks slightly wrong when viewed from anywhere but below. Michaelangelo knew proportions had to work from the person in that position looking up and the statue is genius because of that. Maybe, when you get close up this one will be just perfect.

It really doesn't do her justice, she was much more attractive than that. However, as others have said, so long as her sons approve that's all that matters.

I was nice to see Harry smiling again. I don't think he's smiled in public since his marriage.

I think it perfectly captures the utter philistinism of our royal family - it seems to be composed of used bin bags.

the worriedwell
Don't know what part of the world you originate but the term 'the boys 'as is 'the girls' is frequently'used when referring to a persons children be they related/ unrelated.

Just seen the Tommy Cooper statue in Caerphilly. Now that’s a classy statue and so relevant to the man

She looks grumpy and the children look like mini-adults, not children. Makes the whole thing look odd. Missed opportunity.

I don't understand why the children are turning their faces away from her. They should be looking up at her in an adoring way and she should be smiling down at them.
Her beauty,sense of style and love for children are all missing. Such a shame.

I think the sculptor did a pretty good job. The statue will be there long after everyone who was there at the unveiling is long gone. Kensington Gardens has always been one of my favourite places, I remember taking my toddler sons to see the Peter Pan statue while I was reading them the book, and the Diana statue had to 'fit in' with that and the others there. Diana was always called beautiful but to my mind she was more strong looking than pretty and Ian Rank-Broadley showed that part of her personality. I think.

Regarding the sculpture not making her look attractive, I noticed that at first. But then thinking back, I don't think her basic form, bodywise and facial was innately beautiful. She made the best of her features, moved gracefully, had nice makeup and facial expressions that made her attractive. But a grey still statue can't show all that, it just reasonably faithfully replicated her shape. Have a look at her chin and bust in old photos, where she's not posing for a shot from a good angle. She does get a heavy jaw from her family, and she had a low bustline and broad back as you can see from her in swimwear when it's not possible to cut the cloth to play down less attractive parts of the body.

So a statue may not have been the best way to remember her, after all.

Doesn't look anything like her, and it's horrible!!!

I think Diana and the children look great, sorry to disagree with the majority of you

Lucky for me, Prince William and Harry must love the statue too!!

No very disappointed with how she has been portrayed in the statue ...does not sum up her personality at all and the clothes are awful .....may have been better in a sitting position with 'indications' around her of her love for humanity ...maybe a dove or two ...but, if her sons approved it then I guess it means more to them. Also she has not been portrayed as smiling which is a shame

There seem to be 3 kids: 1 behind her.

Just ghastly - the poor woman must be revolving in her grave.
She was vivacious and sparky, not a maudlin metallic matron!

Would have thought the two children by her statue would have been William and Harry to be honest, far more fitting.

Thought Harry seemed very jokey and jovial, William's behaviour was much more dignified.

Readymeals wrote:
"So a statue may not have been the best way to remember her, after all."

I agree wholeheartedly with this. Perhaps metal was not the right material for a statue of Diana. Her lightness and liveliness would have been better captured in a different medium.

I would have preferred something classically styled in marble for her, I think, given that she was such a tall, slender classical beauty. But bronze seems to be the favoured medium now. I am also a little surprised she wasn’t sculpted on her own.

Again, if her boys are happy, that’s the thing, really. It isn’t quite what I expected but she wasn’t my mum, much as I admired her when I was little.

Disappointing, nothing else to say.