On Thursday, The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex presented the long-awaited statue of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in an emotional and private ceremony at her old home, Kensington Palace.

The “small event,” as Kensington Palace put it, was held in the Sunken Landscape and was attended by just the brothers, Diana’s siblings, sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, garden designer Pip Morrison, and others involved in the statue’s design. In accordance with the brothers’ desires, the unveiling was not aired live, but rather was recorded by a small group of media outlets, with pictures and video published only after everything was completed.

Diana, Princess of Wales, would have been 60 on July 1, and her siblings gathered to pay an emotional tribute.

The brothers wrote in a combined tribute: “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.

“Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.

“Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.”

One witness to the ceremony characterized it as “emotional,” and he also remembered how casual the procedures were. This was not a ceremony, but rather an intimate family meeting to reveal what is ultimately a very personal homage from two boys.

It’s the first time the brothers have been seen together since their grandpa, the Duke of Edinburgh’s, funeral in April, amid rumors of strained ties.

The monument is flanked by three youngsters and represents Diana in her latter years, according to the beautiful bronze artwork.

During the unveiling, which was not broadcast live, William inquired, “ready?” before he and Harry removed the cloth and the audience cheered.

A pedestal under the statue is inscribed with the Princess’ name and the date of the unveiling, while a paving stone in front is engraved with an excerpt from Albert Schweitzer’s poem The Measure of a Man, which was included in the program for the Princess’ memorial ceremony in 2007.

It says: “These are the units to measure the worth.

“Of this woman as a woman regardless of birth.

“Not what was her station?

“But had she a heart?

“How did she play her God-given part?”

“We made it a special day to come here,” said Roja Solim, who was there with her sister Vivi. “It’s something they wanted to do which is lovely,” she said of the brothers and the monument.

More than 4,000 flowers have been planted in the area, which provides a “calmer and more reflective setting” for the lasting memorial to the princess.