The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Statue, a UK First, Oakham Rutland
In the gardens behind Oakham Library, you will find one of the town’s most significant contemporary landmarks, the bronze memorial to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This stunning seven-foot statue holds a unique place in British history. It was the first permanent memorial statue of the Queen to be commissioned and completed in the United Kingdom following her death in September 2022.
The statue was officially unveiled on Sunday, April 21, 2024 a date chosen specifically because it would have been Her Late Majesty’s 98th birthday.
The ceremony was a true community event, attended by over a thousand people. In a fitting tribute to the Queen's lifelong passion, the unveiling was accompanied by a gathering of nearly 50 corgis from the Welsh Corgi League. The statue was revealed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. Sarah Furness, alongside local dignitaries.
The memorial was created by the talented British sculptor Hywel Brân Pratley, a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.
Hywel Pratley chose to depict a youthful Queen Elizabeth as she appeared in the 1950s and 60s. She is shown in full regal Garter robes, capturing her "benevolence, power, and beauty."
The Corgis, to emphasise her humanity and warmth, the statue features three bronze corgis. One "yaps" at her feet, while another peeks playfully from beneath her royal robes.
The statue was cast locally at the Le Blanc Fine Art Bronze Foundry in Saxby and stands on a base of local Ancaster limestone.
It was funded by Oakham Town Council and many voluntary public donations.
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