Deets on New Garden for Princess Diana’s Statue Unveiling

By Jill Brooke

It’s a bit ironic that among Princess Diana’s favorite flowers was blue forget-me-nots and they were also scattered around the refurbished garden where her 60th birthday statue was just unveiled. 

Oh she definitely hasn’t ‘been forgotten, has she? As someone who also lost a beloved parent as a teenager, these are indeed poignant moments and much attention has been given towards the hopeful reconciliation of her sons, Princes William and Harry. 

But along with the statue created by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, did you know that garden designer Pip Morrison planted more than 4,000 flowers for the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace including 200 roses, 300 tulips 500 lavender plants, 100 dahlias and 50 sweet peas as well as 100 forget-me-nots. 

As Morrison told the Guardian, “the Sunken Garden was a favorite place of Diana, Princess of Wales. We have worked carefully to ensure that the new layout and planting scheme complements the statue, providing a calming place for people who visit Kensington Palace to remember the princess.”

Both Prince William and Harry – who commissioned the statue for their mother – approved of this concept of creating a place where people could be reflective. And we do know how flowers have special powers to heal and comfort. as we have written about. 

Morrison told the Guardian that the simplified layout is intended to create a more peaceful atmosphere for allowing visitors to reflect. 

The design for the revamped garden began in October of 2019 as plans for the statue became solidified. 

Morrison was chosen because he is an expert in historical gardens and landscapes. In fact, he is working on restoring the gardens at Aukland Castle in County. Durham, including as the Express newspaper noted, the 18th century formal pleasure ground there.

The work he has done at the Sunken Garden for this Princess Diana project has been greeted with warm reviews.

The Sunken Garden was originally created in 1908 at the request of King Edward VII. To honor the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2017, the garden was renamed temporarily the White Garden and planted with flowers in white and soft pastel colors. 

But to honor her 60th birthday as well as the unveiling of the statue, plans were created to focus on her favorite flowers. 

Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD and floral editor for aspire design and home magazine

Photo Credit: Pixabay