As a statue is unveiled celebrating the life of the Princess of Wales, Nick Richards looks at the history of a tribute to Diana on the outskirts of Norwich.

Diana, Princess of Wales would have turned 60 today.

To mark this event, a new statue is being unveiled in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace which her children, Prince William and Prince Harry, hope will allow visitors to the palace to reflect on their mother's life and legacy.

Eastern Daily Press: The memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales in Thorpe St Andrew which sits under a large hornbeam treeThe memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales in Thorpe St Andrew which sits under a large hornbeam tree (Image: Nick RIchards)

Norfolk-born Diana already has a tribute in Norwich's Castle Gardens, but there is also one on River Green in Thorpe St Andrew which you may not know about.

Close to The Rushcutters Pub and near the town's war memorial is a small plaque to Diana in front of a tree which was planted in her memory in the late 1990s.

Eastern Daily Press: The Diana memorial at Thorpe St AndrewThe Diana memorial at Thorpe St Andrew (Image: Nick Richards)

In recognition of her 60th birthday this week, vice chair of Broadland District Council, councillor John Fisher, Thorpe St Andrew deputy mayor Jane Fisher and councillor Sue Lawn, Thorpe St Andrew mayor, visited the memorial to pay their respects.

This morning a floral tribute was placed next to the memorial.

Mr Fisher explained the history of the memorial.

He said: "It was a Broadland District Council initiative. We felt at the time of her death that there should be some recognition of her in this county due to her Norfolk links.

Eastern Daily Press: From left, vice chair Broadland District Council, Cllr John Fisher, Thorpe St Andrew deputy mayor Jane Fisher with Cllr Sue Lawn, Thorpe St Andrew mayor at the Diana memorialFrom left, vice chair Broadland District Council, Cllr John Fisher, Thorpe St Andrew deputy mayor Jane Fisher with Cllr Sue Lawn, Thorpe St Andrew mayor at the Diana memorial (Image: Submitted)

"A man called Paul White from the conservation office managed to get an agreement that a tree would be planted as a memorial and they started to look for a site across Broadland that would be suitable - they'd looked at Thorpe Lodge as a possible option.

"River Green was eventually chosen as it's quite a unique place and in the same parish as Broadland District Council's headquarters so it was approved by the parish council to be the location for a tree and memorial."

The memorial plaque to Diana sits underneath an impressive hornbeam tree today, although the original memorial was replaced in 2017.

Mr Fisher said: "The original stone had deteriorated so was replaced around the time of the 20th anniversary of her death. That original stone is now in the sensory garden for dementia sufferers at the rear of Roxley Hall."

Eastern Daily Press: A memorial service was held in 2017 when the original stone was replacedA memorial service was held in 2017 when the original stone was replaced (Image: Submitted)

A small memorial service was held on River Green in 2017 to mark the replacement of the stone and over the years bunches of flowers have been left at the memorial.