On Wednesday, the eve of the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death, Prince William and Prince Harry braved the London rain to pay tribute to their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The royal siblings, who were joined by William’s wife Duchess Catherine, made an emotional visit to ‘The White Garden’ at Kensington Palace — a sunken garden transformed into a thoughtful tribute to the late princess.
The memorial features many of the royal’s favourite flowers — among them, 12,000 bulbs of white roses, gladioli, cosmos, gaura, fragrant nemesia, and white lilies.
Their Royal Highnesses toured the garden alongside Sean Harkin who designed the tribute and Graham Dillamore who knew the princess when he worked on the grounds some 30 years ago.
Their Royal Highnesses paid an emotional visit to ‘The White Garden’ at Kensington Palace.
They braved the rain to make the important and no doubt poignant engagement.
“We know that Diana liked forget-me-nots,” Dillamore explained. “I always felt that she preferred the pastel, lighter colour shades—the whites, the light pinks, the light blues—so I think what we’ve done here is very fitting.”
“As we’ve been working in the garden, many of our palace visitors have stopped to talk to us and share their own memories of Diana, Princess of Wales,” Harkin told People in April. “We hope that our garden captures the energy and spirit that made her such a popular figure around the world.”
Kate paid tribute to the mother-in-law she never knew with a poppy-printed dress by Prada — of course, poppies are a symbol of remembrance. She accented the floral ensemble with a neutral L.K. Bennett Fern stiletto.
The memorial garden features many of the royal’s favourite flowers — among them, 12,000 bulbs of white roses.
Kate’s dress — emblazoned with poppies, a symbol of remembrance — was the perfect tribute to the mother-in-law she never knew.
The golden royal trio were treated to a tour of the breathtaking space.
Sean Harkin who designed the tribute and Graham Dillamore who knew the princess when he worked on the grounds some 30 years ago accompanied the royals.
In addition to taking in the breathtaking display, the golden royal trio met with representatives from many of the causes and charities supported by the ‘People’s Princess,’ including the Royal Marsden and Great Ormond Street hospitals, the National Aids Trust, Centrepoint youth homelessness charity and the Leprosy Mission.
A spokeswoman for Kensington Palace said: “The engagement will allow the princes to pay tribute to the life and work of their mother.”
