The artist entrusted with immortalising the late Queen Elizabeth II in bronze has shared a profoundly personal and previously unknown detail about her involvement in the project. Her Majesty personally expressed a specific wish for how she should be remembered for eternity.
Hywel Pratley, the acclaimed sculptor behind the new memorial in Rutland, has given a rare insight into his consultations with the monarch before her passing. The statue, which captures the Queen in her younger years, was a project she took a keen personal interest in.
In a moving revelation, Mr. Pratley disclosed the Queen's direct instruction for the sculpture. "She was very clear," he shared, "that she did not want to be depicted wearing her grand Crown Jewels." Instead, she expressed a desire to be portrayed wearing the simpler George IV State Diadem, the diamond crown she wore for her journey to and from the State Opening of Parliament throughout her reign.
This choice, the sculptor noted, was deeply symbolic. It reflected her preference for being seen as a working monarch, dedicated to the day-to-day duties of the crown, rather than solely focusing on the immense pomp and ceremony of the role. The diadem itself is famously depicted on British stamps and currency, making it one of the most recognisable symbols of her reign.
The life-size statue, unveiled in Oakham, Rutland, shows a youthful Queen Elizabeth II standing beside her beloved favourite corgi. The design perfectly encapsulates her personal request, presenting a vision of graceful duty rather than ostentatious power.
This intimate glimpse into the Queen's wishes offers a new perspective on how she viewed her own legacy—one rooted in service and humility, a sentiment now permanently cast in bronze for generations to come.
