A Memorial for the Queen — and Her Beloved Corgis
A seven-foot-tall sculpture of the late Queen Elizabeth II was recently unveiled. The memorial also included some of the queens beloved corgis.
Queen Elizabeth II’s affection for her corgis was well-known, a fondness Princess Diana amusingly likened to a “moving carpet” as the dogs followed the queen wherever she went.
This cherished aspect of the late queen’s life has now been captured in a bronze statue, unveiled on what would have been her 98th birthday. Created by London-based sculptor Hywel Pratley, the monument stands in a green space outside the library in Oakham, England, located roughly 100 miles north of London.
The unveiling ceremony, held in September 2022 following the queen’s death at age 96, attracted various dignitaries. Notably, over 40 corgis, organized by the Welsh Corgi League, attended and participated in a parade to Oakham Castle, as reported by Tatler’s Ben Jureidini.
Commissioned by Sarah Furness, the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, the statue cost £125,000 (about $155,000), funded mainly through donations, according to BBC News’ Samantha Noble. The Rutland County Council has hailed the statue as “the first permanent memorial” to Britain’s “much-loved and longest reigning monarch.”