A new statue commemorating Elizabeth II has been criticised for not resembling her “in any shape or form”.
The bronze sculpture was unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland on Saturday.
However the statue of the UK’s longest-serving monarch, created by north Belfast artist Anthony Brennan, has been met with mixed reactions.
A statue of Prince Philip was already on display in the parterre garden within Antrim Castle with Queen Elizabeth and her two corgis recently added to the scene.
Vera McWilliam, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor, told the BBC: “We have to be honest, it does not resemble the [late] Queen in any shape or form.”
Richard, from Antrim, who first saw the statue online and then visited Antrim Castle Gardens to see it in person with his wife said he was “really disappointed”.
He said: “Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested. It’s not good. I would take it away. It doesn’t do anything in memory for Her Majesty, so definitely I would remove it.”
The sculpture also came under fire in the comments section of a social media post by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council showing the first photos of the sculpture. The comments have since been turned off.
Other visitors were more welcoming of the statue.
Francis, visiting with his wife Marie, said: “It’s great, I think they have it down to a tee.
“They’ve got the [late] Queen as she’s young. I think the two would be very pleased with it. And they’ve got the corgis all round.”
The proposal to commission a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth and her dogs was made in January 2023. A bronze statue of Prince Philip had already been erected in the parterre garden.
During the unveiling of the new statue, Paul Dunlop, the deputy mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, said: “It’s down to personal taste, everyone has their own opinion but it is what the sculpture represents that is important.”
Which decade of their lives is it intended to depict?
The male (Phillip) looks youngish, The woman (Elizabeth) looks older and motherly.
Phillip was older than Elizabeth by a decade or so.. They don’t really match up or resemble either of the subjects the statues are intended to depict meaningfully.
Lol I’m glad it’s shite, it’s all she deserved
😂
Alan partridge
Liz was about to flash the real puppies there by the looks of how she’s holding her jacket
A complete waste of money is what it is
I mean it doesn’t look like her at all, not even up for debate LOL
She’ll look alright as soon as someone finishes off the sculpture by placing a traffic cone on her head
25 comments
***The Telegraph reports:***
A new statue commemorating Elizabeth II has been criticised for not resembling her “in any shape or form”.
The bronze sculpture was unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland on Saturday.
However the statue of the UK’s longest-serving monarch, created by north Belfast artist Anthony Brennan, has been met with mixed reactions.
A statue of Prince Philip was already on display in the parterre garden within Antrim Castle with Queen Elizabeth and her two corgis recently added to the scene.
Vera McWilliam, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor, told the BBC: “We have to be honest, it does not resemble the [late] Queen in any shape or form.”
Richard, from Antrim, who first saw the statue online and then visited Antrim Castle Gardens to see it in person with his wife said he was “really disappointed”.
He said: “Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested. It’s not good. I would take it away. It doesn’t do anything in memory for Her Majesty, so definitely I would remove it.”
The sculpture also came under fire in the comments section of a social media post by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council showing the first photos of the sculpture. The comments have since been turned off.
Other visitors were more welcoming of the statue.
Francis, visiting with his wife Marie, said: “It’s great, I think they have it down to a tee.
“They’ve got the [late] Queen as she’s young. I think the two would be very pleased with it. And they’ve got the corgis all round.”
The proposal to commission a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth and her dogs was made in January 2023. A bronze statue of Prince Philip had already been erected in the parterre garden.
During the unveiling of the new statue, Paul Dunlop, the deputy mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, said: “It’s down to personal taste, everyone has their own opinion but it is what the sculpture represents that is important.”
**Full story:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/09/11/queen-elizabeth-statue-bronze-sculpture-antrim-castle/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/09/11/queen-elizabeth-statue-bronze-sculpture-antrim-castle/)
looks like shes got her hands behind her back, and then twisted her head round like the ghoul she was
The artist was clearly a dog person
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
All the good statue sculptor’s died in Victorian times.
It amazes me how they managed to do such a bad job with her but get Philip’s lean perfectly captured.
Yes- it’s crap. Mind you it’s as good as they deserve, if they deserve a monument at all. What’s the monument for? What did they do?
It’s a statue for weird, deferent freaks. Get rid of those two and keep the corgis.
Looks like it was done by one of the lads that does the murals
That’s her mid-transformation into full lizard
Reminds me of your woman in Fr.Ted. “Feckin Greeks!”
https://i.redd.it/g5nhks2pn5od1.gif
I feel like this happens with every new royal statue. Remember the one of Diana that’s like 9 feet tall?
She wearing wellies and carrying a handbag – what on earth. Then you look at the face and it looks more like Winnie from Mrs Brown’s boys.
Well it’s cold and stiff.. That’s lifelike.
New Weeping Angels are looking a bit shite.
It’s a poor effort.
https://preview.redd.it/bmh0og31q5od1.png?width=847&format=png&auto=webp&s=2f21a03a215ee171ab8049e3db6bc34e2fc588ff
Lizzy’s been on the roids in the afterlife
Which decade of their lives is it intended to depict?
The male (Phillip) looks youngish, The woman (Elizabeth) looks older and motherly.
Phillip was older than Elizabeth by a decade or so.. They don’t really match up or resemble either of the subjects the statues are intended to depict meaningfully.
Lol I’m glad it’s shite, it’s all she deserved
😂
Alan partridge
Liz was about to flash the real puppies there by the looks of how she’s holding her jacket
A complete waste of money is what it is
I mean it doesn’t look like her at all, not even up for debate LOL
She’ll look alright as soon as someone finishes off the sculpture by placing a traffic cone on her head