Queen Elizabeth: New statue divides opinions

A new sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II, unveiled last week in Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland, has been the subject of debate ever since. The bronze statue of the late Queen next to her husband Prince Philip (1921-2021) and their two corgis was created by North Belfast artist Anto Brennan.

“The sculpture depicts Her Majesty in a dignified pose that reflects her grace, fortitude and lifelong dedication to public service,” Antrim and Newtownabbey City Council wrote in a Facebook post, sharing photos of the new statue. On Instagram, it shared a video of the unveiling.

However, many of the comments under the posts do not sound enthusiastic. “I love the idea but does anyone else think it doesn’t really look like her?” asks one user. Another writes: “More of an insult than a tribute, looks absolutely awful to be honest.” Another follower jokes that she looks “more like Mrs. Doubtfire” than the late queen. They also say that the sculpture is “ridiculous” and “not functional.”

But a few also defended the statue: “It’s a shame that people only find fault with this statue but don’t think about the time and effort this man put into making it,” wrote one follower.

However, in a statement sent to Sky News, Antrim and Newtownabbey City Council said there had been a “generally positive response” to the sculpture.

“We recognise that art can sometimes provoke differing opinions, but it is important to emphasise that the sculpture has been very positively received by most who have seen it in person,” the statement said. The sculpture is a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s remarkable legacy and the community is proud to have it as part of its cultural landscape.

The statue of Prince Philip was also created by Anto Brennan and was unveiled in June last year.