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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Nina Lloyd

Harry and William laugh and joke as they unveil Diana statue despite royal feud

William and Harry joked and laughed together as they unveiled the statue of their mother Princess Diana today on what would have been her 60th birthday.

The brothers appeared to be in good spirits with one another, and were pictured chatting warmly with their guests at the event in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.

They appeared to set aside their months-long rift to put on a united front as they admired the flower beds during the occasion.

The grounds were completely transformed by landscape gardeners and filled with 4,000 forget-me-nots - their mother's favourite bloom.

The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex were snapped walking side by side with other attendees as they made their way to the memorial this afternoon.

They greeted other guests warmly with kisses and hugs as the event wore on.

Harry was pictured breaking into a smile as he reunited with his brother and members of Diana's family.

The brothers smiled as they chatted with one another (PA)
William and Harry released a moving joint statement paying tribute to their mother (PA)

William was 15 and Harry 12 when the limousine carrying their mother and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a tunnel in Paris as it sped away from chasing photographers.

Both brothers have spoken of the deep trauma the loss caused, and how it affected their mental health for years afterwards.

In 2017, they commissioned the statue to mark her legacy and life, eventually selecting sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, whose effigy of Queen Elizabeth has been used on British and Commonwealth coinage, as its designer.

The brothers appeared to greet guests in good spirits (PA)
The brothers looked like they were chatting amicably with one another (PA)

Only a small group of attendees, including the princes and Diana's close family, were invited to 39-year-old William's home Kensington Palace for the unveiling.

Harry, 36, also used to live at the palace, but his home is now in California after he and his American wife Meghan stepped down from official royal duties last year.

The brothers last saw each other in April at the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip, the queen's husband of more than 70 years, after which they are reported to have argued.

Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex after the unveiling (PA)
The brothers talking to Rupert Gavin, Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces (left) and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (right) (PA)

But despite the feud, the Duke of Sussex flew to the UK last Friday to complete a period of isolation before attending the event today.

What does unite Harry and William is grief for their mother, who became a beloved household name around the world after her marriage to heir to the throne Prince Charles in 1981.

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