Prince William and Prince Harry Have Chosen Sculptor for Princess Diana’s Memorial Statue

Two decades after Princess Diana‘s tragic death, her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, are honoring the late royal in a very special way. Earlier this year, William, 35, and Harry, 33, announced they’ve commissioned a statue of Diana to memorialize the late royal — and now, the brothers have revealed the sculptor for the project. According to People, artist Ian Rank-Broadley will create the Diana statue in the coming months.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

“We have been touched by the kind words and memories so many people have shared about our mother over these past few months. It is clear the significance of her work is still felt by many in the UK and across the world, even 20 years after her death,” William and Harry said in a statement. “Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother. We look forward to unveiling the statue, which will allow all those who visit Kensington Palace to remember and celebrate her life and legacy.”

Diana’s statue will be placed on the Kensington Palace grounds and is expected to be finished by 2019. “It is my sole and highest intention to fulfill the expectations of Their Royal Highnesses in creating a lasting and fitting memorial to their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales,” Rank-Broadley told People. William and Harry previously announced the memorial’s commission via the official Kensington Palace Instagram page on Sunday, Jan. 29. “A statue of Diana, Princess of Wales will be erected in the grounds of Kensington Palace at the request of her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry,” the statement began.

“The Princes have convened a committee to commission and privately raise funds for the creation of the statue. This committee will advise on the selection of the sculptor and will work with Historic Royal Palaces on the statue’s installation in the public gardens at Kensington Palace,” the message continued. “The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry said: ‘It has been twenty years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognize her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue,'” the message read. “‘Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.'”

Diana sadly passed away on Aug. 31, 1997, from a fatal car crash in Paris, France. She was just 36-years-old at the time of her death. Her two children, William and Harry, were ages 15 and 12 when their mother died. In the summer of 2007, William — who now has two kids of his own, son Prince George, 4, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 2 (and another on the way!) with wife Kate Middleton — and Harry marked the 10-year anniversary of Diana’s passing with a memorial concert. At the time, singers including Elton John, Fergie, Pharrell, Donny Osmond, Rod Stewart, and Josh Groban all performed at The Concert for Diana held at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 1, which would have been Princess Diana’s 46th birthday.

Click through the gallery below to see Diana’s cutest photos with William and Harry!