Hundreds have flocked to Kensington Palace in west London today to get a glimpse of the new statue to Princess Diana.
But members of the public gave it a mixed reaction, with some saying she ‘looks beautiful’ while others think ‘it doesn’t look like her’.
The eight-foot sculpture showing her with three ethnically diverse children was unveiled yesterday by her sons, Princes William and Harry, to commemorate her work around the world.
It is the focal point of the Palace’s newly re-landscaped Sunken Garden, which has been filled with the Princess’ favourite Forget-me-not flowers.
Today, eager members of the public began queuing outside the gates two-hour before they were allowed in at 10am to catch their first glimpse of the statue.
Hundreds have flocked to Kensington Palace in west London today to get a glimpse of the new statue to Princess Diana today (pictured)
The eight-foot sculpture showing her with three ethnically diverse children was unveiled yesterday by her sons, Princes William and Harry, to commemorate her work around the world
A woman takes a selfie with her phone with a man in glasses at the far end of the garden in Kensington Palace in west London today
It is the focal point of the Palace’s newly re-landscaped Sunken Garden, which has been filled with the Princess’ favourite Forget-me-not flowers. Pictured: The gates open today
Today, eager members of the public began queuing outside the gates two-hours early to catch their first glimpse of the statue
People queue in front of Kengsinton Palace to see the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, a day after its unveiling by her two sons
First in the queue was Royal super-fan John Loughrey, 66, from Streatham, South London, who gave it the thumbs up. He said:’I think she looks very beautiful.
‘I was impressed when I saw the photographs yesterday but I was really looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes this morning and it didn’t disappoint.’
Retail assistant Lisa Connor, 33, had come all the way from Kendle in the Lake District, and said: ‘I think it looks lovely, it captures her really well.
‘It’s different from what I expected because I thought it was going to be just Diana on her own but I was pleasantly surprised that she was with children as I think it highlights how caring she was.
Mary Gamble, 59, from Highgate in North London, is a regular visitor to Kensington Palace and arrived an hour early to see the statue.
Royals fans who were the first to arrive, form the front of a queue to see the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, on Friday morning
First in the queue was Royal super-fan John Loughrey, 66, from Streatham, South London, who gave it the thumbs up. He said:’I think she looks very beautiful’
Members of the public view the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, a day after its unveiling by Princes William and Harry
The gates are opened to allow people to see the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, on Friday as superfans head down towards the monument
She said: ‘I like it. It’s not quite what I expected as I thought she would be portrayed in the clothes she famously wore during her work advocating a ban on landmines.
‘I knew she would be with children, though, as I remember reading how the sculptor said he didn’t want her on her on her own.
‘I’m also celebrating my 60th birthday this year and so myself and Diana were the same age growing up so I’ve always been a big fan.
‘The statue shows her as a strong woman, which I like, along with the forget-me-bits which were her favourite flower.’
But store manager Neil Walker, 50, who had driven 300-miles from his home in Redcar, Teeside, to see the statue said: ‘I didn’t think it actually looks much like her.
‘If there hasn’t been to all the fanfare and the fact that it’s in Kensington Palace, her former home, I probably wouldn’t have recognised it was Diana.
‘Put the statue any where else in Kensington Park and I’d be struggling to know who it was. I’d have also liked it to show Diana with William and Harry as children.’
The statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, is pictured ahead of the first members of the public being allowed in to view it in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, west London
Neil’s wife Sharon, a 56-year-old mental health hospital supervisor, added: ‘I think the colour of the stone is a bit too dark for me. I’d have preferred it to be lighter.
‘We drove down on Wednesday especially for the statue and tried to see it then but it was all boxed up. This is the first we could see it for ourselves.
‘I’m relieved that it has finally been unveiled, especially as her boys had commissioned it and now here it is at last.’
James Mo, 65, from London, said: ‘I saw Diana a few times around Kensington and remember she was a very beautiful, tall lady.
‘I don’t think the statue looks very much like her at all. I like what it represents though, she deserves to be remembered in such a lovely setting.’