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Princes William and Harry unveil a statue of Diana in the park of Kensington Palace
Photo: DOMINIC LIPINSKI / AFP
One of the most famous, beautiful and at times also unhappy women in the world would have turned 60 on July 1st: Princess Diana.
How do you portray such a personality?
Her sons commissioned a statue four years ago, it was unveiled this afternoon - and the question arises: Would the mother have been happy?
The princes drew the cloth from the work together that they were quarreled, they did not show it. The somewhat dignified presentation that then emerged might not have really impressed the once most modern member of the Royal Family, but it would certainly have touched.
There stands her doppelganger now, in the green space near Kensington Palace, where the princess lived for many years. Light steps lead to the bronze sculpture, which resembles Diana from the last few years before her accidental death in Paris in 1997. As is so often the case with her, the head is tilted slightly downwards, the posture is calm and yet dynamic; As in real life, the outfit is of course always a matter of taste: the blouse and skirt look a bit boring, however, so that it would have been difficult to imagine the ensemble on the real princess, who was also one of fashion.
The tone of the bronze also appears a bit hard and gray, making it look a bit ghostly. After all, she is not alone. She is accompanied by three bronze children, so to speak, that fits the woman with the big heart and is supposed to symbolize her child-friendliness. The fact that she has company is sure to comfort those who look at her - and soon there will be many.
In all probability, thanks to social media, the statue will become one of the most famous works of art in the world within hours, more or less the new Mona Lisa, and that is especially good for Ian Rank-Broadley, 69. The friendly Briton is the creator of the always beautiful Diana statue. He has depicted other members of the royal family in recent years, on coins, for example, and he made each one look good and nice: Queen Mum, the Queen herself, Prince Charles, and recently Prince Philip. This is probably one of the reasons why he is more popular than some relatives within the royal family.
When Prince William and Harry Rank-Broadley commissioned William and Harry Rank-Broadley in 2017 to create a portrayal of their mother that "reflects her life and legacy," they too must have had a harmonic effect in mind.
At that time the brothers seemed to get along reasonably well.
But then the break followed, the latest bang in the family structure, and the work - some feared - could have become a symbol of the conflict.
What's next?
Either way, Diana returns to a family in which the royale and the dysfunctional still belong together.
Forty years ago - another jubilee - the young noblewoman married the heir to the British throne in front of the world, who then, also before the eyes of the world, never seemed particularly interested in his wife.
Would Princess Diana have liked the idea of choosing a sculptor who would also immortalize her divorced husband, Prince Charles?
The Charles statue was created in 2008 for the 60th birthday of the Crown Prince, who already looks amazingly royal on the profile portrait.
At the same time, the sons certainly knew what they were doing - and certainly didn't want to take any chances.
Whoever hires Rank-Broadley knows what he is getting, so that he can create a satisfactory similarity between the model and the illustration.
His realism is, however, a solemn and, above all, nostalgic, and his works are not intended to appear contemporary.
A few years ago he himself emphasized in an interview that he was looking for a connection to the past and that he liked to work traditionally.
In advance, of course, one wondered what grade his Diana would have, that of a victim, that of a rebellious heroine?
Wasn't she both for her sons?
Rank-Broadley could not be asked that beforehand, he asked for your understanding, he had signed an agreement.
But he advised to go to the Kensington Palace office, where Prince William lives.
However, there was no response from there to the request to interview the artist.
Unflattering bronze tone
Now Diana only affects the viewer.
Neither like an oppressed nor like one who rebels - but actually serious in a bitter way, this may also be due to the unflattering bronze tone.
It was planned early on that the statue would be erected in Kensington Park and there in the "Sunken Garden".
For 15 years the princess also lived in the palace next door, her golden cage, but she supposedly loved the green spaces around it and especially this gently lowered area.
A few years ago, many white flowers were planted there in her honor.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle showed themselves to the photographers in the Sunken Garden after their engagement.
more on the subject
William and Harry on Diana's 60th birthday: The Ice Saints by Patricia Dreyer
Documentary series by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey: Everything must go by Elisa von Hof
Fashion icon Diana: she dressed how she feltBy Claudia Voigt
Fashion icon Diana: One of usBy Elisa von Hof
It all turned into a cult.
But now the actually immortal "princess of hearts" is being turned into a museum.
With all the beauty cast in bronze, she didn't quite deserve that.
But her sons must have meant well.
And that's what matters to mothers.
And if the princes really approached each other again at the sight of the statue - then Ian Rank-Broadley would go down in history as a reunifier of estranged brothers.