The first memorial statue of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled on what would have been her 98th birthday – and corgi fans worldwide are in for a treat.
The stunning 2.1-metre bronze statue, featuring the Queen in flowing robes, also immortalised three of her beloved pooches – one at her feet and two near the plinth, which are perfect for doggy selfies.
The monarch is depicted in state robes, and there is an engraving on the monument that reads, “Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 – 2022. Erected as a tribute to her late Majesty through public subscription by Rutland people.”
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CANINE PALS
London-based sculptor Hywel Pratley hopes the memorial will become popular on social media with royal and doggy-loving fans wanting a selfie with the late Queen and her canine friends.
“It will make a perfect backdrop for pictures, and people will be able to reach up and pat a dog or if small enough, even sit in its back,” Hywel told the gathered crowd at the unveiling.
Around 50 corgis from The Welsh Corgi League were in attendance at the event. Spectators hailed the sculpture – which shows the late monarch as a young woman – as “absolutely amazing” and “fantastic.”
The Queen owned more than 30 corgis during her reign having grown up with the breed as a child. She bred corgis and the cross-breed, dorgis. Her last dogs, Muick and Sandy, were left to Sarah Ferguson after her death.
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