Gyles Brandreth Pushes For A Permanent Queen Elizabeth Statue At Trafalgar Square
Since the Queen’s passing on September 8, there’s been talks of honoring her legacy with a statue on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square.
The idea was first floated around by former minister Sir John Hayes, who said he believes that the Queen deserves a “fitting national memorial”.
He also added: “For me, a statue on the final plinth on Trafalgar Square would be ideal.”
The idea received considerable support from MPs at the time, with Commons leader Penny Mordaunt promising that she would certainly raise it with Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan.
London Mayor Says Statue Of Queen Will Not Be Placed On Fourth Plinth For Foreseeable Future
The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, recently announced that there’s an existing schedule of a temporary modern art commissions, which will continue with latest work depicting anti-colonialist revolt, thereby leaving no room for the Queen’s proposed statue.
Sadiq Khan’s office issued the announcement that Queen Elizabeth the II’s statue will not be placed on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth for a long time.
The empty plinth, located in the center of London, has been used as a platform for contemporary artworks since 1999.
It would have been a perfect place for the late Queen’s statue, but there have already been plans for works of arts that will be exhibited on the Fourth Plinth for the next four years.
Samson Kambalu’s new commission, Antelope, will be in situ until Sept 2024. There is a new artwork roughly every two years.
Even with the news that the Fourth Plinth is booked for the next four years, people are still pushing to get the Queen’s statue on display at the central location PERMANENTLY.
A government source was among those who lobbied for the scheme to come to an end so that the late Queen’s statue can permanently take the spot.
The Mayor of London’s office then released a statement assuring the public that they are ready to support any statue of the late monarch in the capital. “A statue of the Queen at a suitable location in London is a matter for the Royal family to consider, and of course the Greater London Authority stands ready to support them in their wishes.”
Gyles Brandreth Wants The Queen On Permanent Display
The founder of Poetry Together Gyles Brandreth said that he feels it’s time for the scheme to regularly change the statue on display on the Fourth Plinth to end, as he pushes for a permanent statue of the Queen to occupy the location.
“In the 1990s when I was an MP & PPS at the Department of National Heritage I spotted the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square & triggered the scheme to fill it with changing works of art,” he tweeted. “I’m proud of that. But now is the time for a permanent statue: Elizabeth II on her horse Burmese.”
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