Britain’s monarch of 70 years could be immortalised in an important London spot.
There are calls to place a permanent statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth.
Some MPs seemed to give the seal of approval today when they shouted ‘hear hear’ to the proposal in the Commons.
Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes floated the idea, saying a fitting national memorial’ needed to be created following Her Majesty’s death aged 96.
‘Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II we have witnessed an extraordinary nationwide, indeed kingdom-wide, response – a moving mix of sorrow at our loss and celebration of a life of remarkable service’, he said.
‘So that that mood is marked forever and remembrance can last for generations to come, a fitting national memorial needs to be established.
‘Will the Leader of the House therefore agree with me that a statement be brought to this House on what form that memorial might take?
‘For me, a statue on the final plinth on Trafalgar Square would be ideal.’
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt replied: ‘I thank (Sir John) for his suggestion.
‘Clearly these will be matters that will concern many members and will involve other bodies outside of this House, but I shall certainly raise this with the Secretary of State for DCMS (Michelle Donelan) and ensure she properly consults members on their wishes as plans are taken forward.’
Trafalgar Square’s north-west plinth was originally intended to hold a statue of William IV.
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But there were insufficient funds and it remained empty for 150 years.
Since 1998, a number of temporary artworks have been displayed here.
Most recently was Heather Phillipson’s The End monument which featured a whirl of whipped cream topped with a cherry, a drone and a fly.
If the idea did go forward, the statue of the Queen couldn’t be displayed for years.
A sculpture of a preacher who was killed in an anticolonialist uprising in what is now Malawi will be displayed from this month.
It depicts a 1914 photograph of Baptist preacher John Chilembwe and European missionary John Chorley.
In 2024, Teresa Margolles’s sculpture which features casts of the faces of 850 trans people will go on show.
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