prince william kate middleton no time to die© Photo: Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton host postponed reception to mark Princess Diana's statue unveiling

The statue was unveiled back in July

Online News Writer & Diversity and Inclusion Lead
October 19, 2021

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have hosted a postponed reception in Kensington Palace's sunken garden to mark the unveiling of a statue dedicated to the memory of Princess Diana.

DISCOVER: Prince William & Kate Middleton's royal wedding car was powered by wine and cheese

Prince William and Prince Harry unveiled the statue, designed by artist Ian Rank-Broadley, back in July, on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the unveiling of the statue had a limited guest list, and a formal event had to be postponed.

WATCH: Princess Diana's Kensington Palace gardens get stunning makeover

William and Kate hosted the event on Tuesday, where they met to thank donors who had helped back the project.

MORE: Prince William's velvet blazer looks exactly like this Marks & Spencer jacket

RELATED: Kate Middleton shows no sign of nerves as she confidently gives speech at Earthshot Prize awards

It is believed that the guest list, which numbered around 100, included Diana's close friends, former staff and relatives.

However, absent from the event was the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle.

It's unknown why the pair didn't fly back for the ceremony, but it is understood that Harry has privately been in touch with donors to thank them.

© Photo: Getty Images

The brothers unveiled the statue in July

It's been a busy time for the Duke of Cambridge, who hosted his first Earthshot Prize event on Sunday.

MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's surprising new venture revealed

READ: Prince William and Harry's favourite childhood meal is a royal treat - recipe

The event, which will be hosted annually, is designed to find inspiring and innovative solutions to environmental challenges from around the world. This year, the environmentally-focused event had a special dress code, which asked attendees to "consider the environment when choosing their outfit".

At the event, William revealed that next year, the USA will host the awards ceremony, saying its leadership was "essential".

© Photo: Getty Images

William spoke at the Earthshot Awards on Sunday

He added: "I hope everyone watching understands more about the urgent challenges facing our planet in this decisive decade.

MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William would want children to have therapy if needed – fans tell their stories

SEE: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share emotional statement after tragic event

"And I hope that our Earthshot winners have shown you that there is no place for despair.

"You should feel inspired to act and to demand that the solutions you've seen tonight get all the support they need."

Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity, royal and lifestyle news delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More Royalty

See more