Staff at Kensington Palace this week braced themselves for a new deluge of flowers and tributes, as well-wishers from around the world flocked to commemorate Diana, Princess of Wales.
The Golden Gates, to the south of the palace, have been allocated for banners, cards and flowers remembering the Princess on the 20th anniversary of her death, as the palace’s “robust” security staff were briefed to direct people there.
The palace, home to the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, became the focal point for those wishing to actively pay tribute to their mother, mirroring the sea of flowers which spontaneously formed after her death on August 31, 1997.
Visitors have already travelled from Russia and America to lay personal tributes.
Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children attended a ceremony to rededicate the grave in June, on what would have been the “Granny Diana’s” birthday. They will seize control of their own public appearances to commemorate their mother.
Although they have not confirmed a walkabout at the makeshift Kensington Palace gate memorial, they attended a reception on Wednesday to celebrate Diana’s charity work in the White Garden built for her.
The Prince of Wales is understood to be spending the anniversary privately in Scotland.
Last Friday, six days ahead of the anniversary, banners, framed photographs and flowers had already been mounted at the palace.
