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The Statue of Diana in Kensington Palace
‘‘All statues are propaganda’’
— Marc Barham
Yesterday — July 1st — in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace a statue of Diana was unveiled by both her son’s to mark what would have been her 60th birthday and as a very belated tribute, to her work through various charities and organisations to make the world a better place. A cliche I know. No doubt for many, who have had a statue erected, but for Diana, this was undoubtedly true.
And given that she helped so many particularly during the AIDS epidemic where she was in the forefront of confronting the appalling stigmatisation of those with AIDS and her brave and committed work with making the public aware of how deadly, undiscovered landmines, were, I find the statue utterly vapid and bizarre. Diana put herself on the line to confront these terrible travesties. And there is not a single reference to what was perhaps — after her boys — her greatest accomplishments and achievements.
The statue of Diana with those 3 children is so bemusing to me. I know it is situated in the Sunken Garden — which she loved — and will be visited by many (with children) but it tells you and them nothing about the real Diana. It does not even hint at the causes she most vigorously supported. It is, however, very safe and that for me is the message being given…
