Newly-unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II includes her beloved pet Corgis
Many people across the world were saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. After 70 years on the throne, she was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and a widely beloved figure.
Now, a newly-unveiled monument is paying tribute to the late queen — and her love for her pet corgis!
New statue of the Queen — and her dogs
A 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth was unveiled on Sunday, in honor of what would’ve been the monarch’s 98th birthday.
The statue, created by artist Hywel Pratley, is located next to the Oakham Library in Oakham, England. It is the first permanent memorial to Queen Elizabeth.
According to Rutland City Council, hundreds gathered for the unveiling. Local school bands and bagpipers performed music.
The most precious thing about this new memorial is that it also includes the queen’s beloved pet Corgis, immortalized in bronze by the monarch’s feet:
According to the city council, the Corgi statues were designed by local school children.
According to the New York Times, Pratley said he wanted the statue to reflect the image of Queen Elizabeth as “an almost motherly figure,” in contrast to the many imposing and stern statues of monarchs like Queen Victoria.
“What most of us remember about Queen Elizabeth is her warmth,” local dignitary Sarah Furness said in a speech at the unveiling. “By showing Queen Elizabeth’s love of dogs, we show her humanity.”
The artist also says he designed the statue to be welcoming to visitors. “We’ve designed it with a bench you can sit on,” Pratley told the BBC. “And there’s a corgi you can pat and I do think it’s inevitably going to be a statue that encourages selfies.”
Indeed, many visitors have already flocked to the statue: according to the Times, a group of Corgi owners showed up with their dogs at the unveiling.
Queen Elizabeth’s pet Corgis: history
The Queen’s corgis were an iconic part of her life for decades, a source of comfort during times of personal and political difficulties. The adorable dogs also delighted fans around the world.
The royals first got a Corgi in 1933, when Elizabeth’s father and predecessor, George VI (though he was Duke of York at the time) brought home a dog named Dookie.
According to BBC, Dookie was actually quite temperamental, but Elizabeth seemed to have a special bond with him.