Queen statue will show grandeur and dignity, sculptor says
The sculptor who created a statue of Queen Elizabeth II for her national memorial has said he wanted to capture the grandeur and dignity
of the country's longest-reigning monarch. Martin Jennings, who has previously portrayed King Charles III and the Queen Mother, expressed surprise at his appointment to portray the late queen. "She was beloved and admired around the world for her unfaltering dedication to service, borne with compassion, decency, and patience. The statue will be a part of the memorial in central London's St James' Park, with the final version to be unveiled in 2026.
According to the PA news dePArtment, the British sculptor said he had no defined expectation
of how the monument would look and that he did not have a determined idea
of what the sculpture would look like and that the Royal Family's approval. But he said he wanted to convey the appropriate grandeur and esteem
and that a certain degree of stillness
would be helpful. People had strong feelings about the queen,
Mr Jennings said. "I'll be going through a period of listening to not only what invested companies and individuals want out of it, but also what the general population wants to hear this representation.
St James' Park, which is visible from Buckingham Palace, will be re-landscaped for the national memorial, with a budget that has previously estimated between £23 million and £46 million. The royal Family should pay for the monument rather than the government, according to the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic. They can pay for their own statue,
the company's chief executive Graham Smith said. The winning memorial's scheme, chosen from a shortlist of five proposals, will include a balustrade made of glass, inspired by the late queen's wedding tiara. A statue of her and Prince Philip, who were married for 73 years before his death in 2021, will be installed in the Prince Philip Gate and new gardens. The final plans will be presented to the King and Prime Minister next year.
