Prince Charles is unlikely to attend the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana because he fears it would “resurface old wounds”

The figure will be revealed on Thursday, which would have been her 60th birthday.

Between 1981 and 1996, the future King was married to Diana for 15 years. The event will be attended by both of their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

On July 1, 2017, the brothers attended a private ceremony of ‘prayer and reflection’ at their mother’s grave in the grounds of Althorp House in Northamptonshire. Prince Charles was also absent and the service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For this week’s occasion, Harry has flown in from California, where he has been living since stepping down as a senior royal.

According to a Sunday Times source: “He[Charles] does find it terribly difficult.

“These moments have the potential to resurface old wounds, and it brings back memories for him: happy, sad, regretful.

The source added: ‘Since Diana’s death, he has felt it best to keep those memories to himself and leave his sons to it.’

Diana died in a vehicle accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36.

The Princess of Wales used to love visiting Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, where the monument is placed.

Ken Wharfe, her long-term security officer, told Vanity Fair: “It’s a very fitting place for the statue to be.

“The Sunken Garden was a place that Diana loved and enjoyed taking the children to.”

Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, as well as her two sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, are expected to attend the modest celebration.

‘Charles has made it quite clear he will not be around beyond that because he is going to Scotland. There is no planned meeting between the three of them. Charles will leave the boys to it,’ another insider previously told The Sun.

For the first time since Prince Philip’s burial in April, William and Harry will appear together for the unveiling.

The Duke of Cambridge is scheduled to visit the monument privately at Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden with his family before joining his brother Prince Harry for the formal ceremony on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the public has been asked not to convert the monument into a shrine for the popular late princess by placing tributes.

“Any flowers of tributes left there will be removed and placed at the golden gates, where they have always been permitted.

“There is a strong desire that this does not become a shrine,” a source told The Telegraph.

According to the Telegraph, Prince Harry is also scheduled to view the monument separately, although he is presently quarantined at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor after flying in from his home in California.

Royal novelist Victoria Arbiter speculated for 9Honey that the presentation of the monument might bring William and Harry closer together.

“If the brothers are unable to bury the hatchet for themselves, perhaps they’ll consider doing so for their mum,” she said.

“I can’t help but think if she were alive today, Diana’s greatest birthday wish would be to see a positive reconciliation between her two equally adored sons.”