The newly revealed design for the Queen Elizabeth II memorial has sparked fierce criticism from campaigners and members of the public, who have condemned the decision to abandon plans for a grand equestrian sculpture in favour of a standing bronze figure.
Unveiled on Tuesday to coincide with what would have been the late monarch's 100th birthday, the revised memorial concept depicts Elizabeth II as a young woman dressed in her Garter robes rather than mounted on horseback as originally envisaged.
The monument will be positioned in St James's Park, overlooking The Mall, in a newly created space named Queen Elizabeth II Place.
Critics have branded the design "boring" and claimed it bears little resemblance to Britain's longest-reigning sovereign.
Royal fans blast upcoming 'mediocre' Elizabeth II statue: 'Looks nothing like our beautiful Queen'
|PA
Stephen Bayley, Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, has urged officials to reconsider the design change.
"The Queen on horseback was what was originally proposed and what we all thought we were going to get," he told the Daily Mail.
Mr Bayley argued that an equestrian depiction would have conveyed the heroic image associated with the late monarch on The Mall, where she led her troops on horseback for 34 years.
He expressed concern about the quality of standing figures in contemporary sculpture, citing examples such as the Ronald Reagan statue in Grosvenor Square and the Lloyd George memorial in Parliament Square as unconvincing.
King Charles and Queen Camilla looking at the memorial of Elizabeth II
|PA
"We do, however, have impressive equestrian sculptors. They could produce something elegant, monumental, majestic - all the things we need here, otherwise what's the point?" Mr Bayley said.
Social media users have been equally scathing in their assessment of the revised memorial. One critic on X accused the memorial committee of selecting a "smaller, cheaper" alternative to the original concept.
They wrote: "I wish they'd stuck to the original plan of the late Queen mounted on a horse. I think that was much nicer than this."
Another user described the statue as "mediocre" for Britain's longest-reigning monarch, adding: "It looks nothing like our beautiful late Queen Elizabeth II."
The Queen's likeness draws inspiration from Pietro Annigoni's celebrated 1955 portrait
|PA
"I've seen better statues of Queen Victoria in provincial towns," a social media user wrote.
Similarly, someone questioned why the Queen was not depicted riding through the park, noting: "She was happiest on a horse." Another expressed disbelief that the King had approved what she termed "hideous designs."
Despite the public outcry, the King has expressed strong support for the memorial design, describing it as "fantastic" during a viewing of a scale model at the British Museum.
King Charles praised the concept of basing the new glass bridge on Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, which his mother wore at her wedding, calling it "a wonderful idea."
It also received warm words from other members of the Royal Family present at the unveiling. The Duchess of Edinburgh commented: "It's a lovely statue. It's how she would like to be remembered as a young woman."
The Duchess of Edinburgh commented: 'It's a lovely statue. It's how she would like to be remembered as a young woman'
|PA
Sculptor Martin Jennings reported that the King's response to seeing the sculptures for the first time was "warm and encouraging."
The memorial park has been designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, with the bronze statues created by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings.
The Queen's likeness draws inspiration from Pietro Annigoni's celebrated 1955 portrait, while Prince Philip will be depicted at a similar age in his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform, standing with both arms behind his back as he often did.
When mounted on its plinth, the Queen's statue will reach seven metres in height, positioned so her head catches the evening light.
Additional features include a cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, a bust of the late monarch in her later years by sculptor Karen Newman, and a Commonwealth wind sculpture by Yinka Shonibare. The memorial is scheduled for completion in 2028.