Can the monarchy survive? Today, tensions are running high ahead of the unveiling of a new statue of Princess Diana. Will William and Harry mend their rift, to help save the British crown?

There will be no party and no cake. No balloons to blow out or presents to wrap. Instead, on Thursday, 1 July, the two princes will stand in the Sunken Gardens of Kensington Palace and unveil a statue in Diana's memory, nearly 24 years after she died in a car crash in Paris.

Two brothers, together again. For William, the ceremony is a short walk from his palace home. For Harry, it is an epic journey across the Atlantic from his new life in California. But one thing is clear: even as the brothers stand shoulder to shoulder, they will still be oceans apart.

For almost their entire adult lives, Harry and William were united in grief. As boys, they walked together behind their mother's coffin. Years later, they stood side by side as best men at each other's weddings.

But now, the brothers have taken different paths. William, like his father and grandmother before him, has chosen tradition. As the future king, second in line to the throne, his duty to serve comes before all else.

Harry, meanwhile, has turned his back on royal life. It is the same decision his mother made, several decades before him.

In the 1990s, as she separated from and divorced Prince Charles, Diana broke all royal protocols to tell her side of the story. She gave an interview on national television, letting the whole world see the depths of her despair.

For the Royal Family, it was a scandal, followed by disaster. Diana's life ended in 1997, as her car was pursued by photographers in France. In 2005, when British authorities investigated the crash, Prince Charles listened as a former police chief read out a note, written by Diana, accusing him of wanting her dead.

The Royal Family was damaged, but the institution survived.

The saga continues

Now, years later, the family is facing a crisis once again.

Prince Harry, with his wife Meghan by his side, has chosen personal truth over tradition. In a series of high-profile interviews earlier this year, the couple accused "the firm" of disregarding their mental health and even of racism. In the 21st Century, many believe the monarchy is increasingly out of touch with the population it aims to serve.

But despite the drama of the last 18 months, the family's royal status does not seem to be in immediate danger. One March 2021 poll found that 63% of Britons continue to support the monarchy.

"Revelations of family dysfunction don't undermine the monarchy so much as explain its enduring appeal," writes Guardian columnist and republican Jonathan Freedland. "One of the royalty's advantages is that it provides a rolling soap opera, a perpetual source of gossip, human drama and distraction."

"The dysfunction is part of its function," he continues. "Royal rifts and scandals are not a bug; they're a feature."

Can the monarchy survive?

Of course, say some. Anyone who thinks the rift between William and Harry is the worst crisis the Royal Family has ever faced has a very short memory. In the past century alone, the institution has survived the abdication of Edward VIII, multiple fiery divorces and the death of Princess Diana. If the next generation unites tradition and modern attitudes, the monarchy will survive and even thrive.

No, say others. The monarchy is outdated and out of touch. The traditions Prince William is upholding do not reflect the values of the people he hopes one day to serve as king. If the Royal Family continues to cast aside people like Princess Diana, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who choose personal authenticity over royal duty, then they will eventually lose public support.