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Diana statue unveiled by William and Harry

The bronze statue of Diana depicts the princess surrounded by children
The bronze statue of Diana depicts the princess surrounded by children

Britain's Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex have jointly paid tribute to their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, after unveiling her statue.

They said: "Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy."

The brothers were last seen together at the funeral of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, after his death in April.

The pared-down ceremony was attended by only a handful of guests, including Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, and her two sisters, Sarah McCorquodale and Jane Fellowes.

The bronze statue of Diana depicts the princess surrounded by three children to represent the "universality and generational impact" of her work.

Today would have been her 60th birthday.

Her short cropped hair, style of dress and portrait are based on the final period of her life - following her split from the Prince of Wales.

Kensington Palace said Diana had "gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes" and that the statue "aims to convey her character and compassion".

The statue shows Diana wearing a sleek open-necked blouse, a wide belt and a pencil skirt.

Her hands are gently placed on the shoulders of two of the children - a boy and a girl, with the girl holding the princess's hand.

Sculpted by renowned artist Ian Rank-Broadley, the monument is 1.25x life size and was cast by Castle Fine Arts Foundry in the traditional "lost-wax" process, with a patina of a bluish green over black.

The cast is hollow and is supported by a stainless-steel armature.

Beneath the statue is a plinth engraved with the princess' name and the date of the unveiling.

In front of the statue is a paving stone engraved with an extract inspired by The Measure of A Man poem.

It reads: "These are the units to measure the worth,

"Of this woman as a woman regardless of birth.

"Not what was her station?

"But had she a heart?

"How did she play her God-given part?"

The delayed statue, which was due to be unveiled before the end of 2017, is situated in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace, which was one of Diana's favourite places.