The 98th posthumous birthday of Queen Elizabeth II was marked by the unveiling of a special statue, which is the first permanent memorial for the late royal.
Revealed outside the local library in Oakham, Rutland, the structure is made of bronze and seven feet tall. It depicts Queen Elizabeth as a young monarch, dressed in full royal regalia, including her crown. Designed by sculptor Hywel Pratley, the larger-than-life statue is the first permanent memorial for the queen, since she passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96.
What makes the structure even more remarkable is that it does not showcase the queen alone, but features her beloved corgis by her feet. It cements her love for the dogs, the first of which she received as an 18th birthday gift, before going on to own over 14 generations of corgis, including “dorgis” (daschund-corgi mixes).
The engraving on the statue reads, “Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 – 2022. Erected as a tribute to her late Majesty through public subscription by Rutland people.”
A crowd of more than 400 was gathered at the unveiling of the statue, while members of the royal family were notably absent. This is mainly because King Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, was at a church service with Queen Camilla at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral, and Kate, Princess of Wales, who is receiving preventative chemotherapy, is on break from her royal duties.
