Duke, Duchess and Harry visit Diana’s new memorial garden
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have visited a new memorial garden dedicated to the late Princess Diana at the grounds of Kensington Palace.
The princes commissioned the garden last year ahead of the 20th anniversary of their mother’s death and were finally able to see it in full bloom on Wednesday.
Both men beamed with smiles as they made their way through the garden entrance with the Duchess of Cambridge and saw the full floral display of gorgeous flowers – many of which were Diana’s favourites.
Pots of white English roses, tulips, a carpet of forget-me-nots, and daisies were in full bloom surrounding a reflective pond in the middle of the grounds.
The royals met with gardeners, including one who knew Diana during her time at the Palace, as well as representatives from charities that Princess Diana was involved with in the last years of her life, including Great Ormond Street Hospital and the English Ballet.
People reports that William recalled “seeing the pigeons and squirrels,” in the garden as a teenager, adding, “We used to come here a lot.”
While it was an emotional day for the two young men, they were pictured smiling broadly as chatted to guests and showed Kate their mother’s favourite flowers.
William told one gardener that he and Harry used to feed the fish in the garden’s pond and said “there never used to be this many in here” — before being told some of the koi carp are so old that they are the same ones from his youth.
Kate, who has visited the garden over the years said she loved the changes.
“It does look really different,” she said. “I love the semi-wildness.”
All three royals are keen charity workers and seemed thrilled to be able to speak with some of the guests from Diana’s favourite causes.
Harry was heard asking one charity worker who knew Diana to “tell me a story about my mother.”
The princes later stopped by the gates of Kensington Palace to see the tributes for Diana that have already started piling up with messages of condolence.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYbFcdLg1Xb/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal
Their visit came the day before the 20th anniversary of Diana’s tragic death and while William and Harry were happy to mingle and honour their mother openly for this occasion, People reports that they will spend August 31 mourning in private.
What do you think of the garden? Is it a fitting tribute for their mother?
Explore More
Book Confidently With Us
Pay safely with us
Proudly Australian owned and operated