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A new bronze sculpture of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has sparked a backlash from local residents.
The royal artwork was unveiled at Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland on Friday.
It was commissioned by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which said the piece “captures Her Majesty in a dignified pose, reflecting her grace, steadfastness and lifelong dedication to public service”.
But it has been met with a flood of criticism from those who have branded it an “abomination” and said it “does not resemble the Queen”.
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Vera McWilliam told BBC News NI: “We have to be honest, it does not resemble the queen in any shape or form.”
Local resident Richard, who had been to see the statue with his wife, told the news outlet he was “really disappointed”.
"Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested. It's not good," he said.
Dr Dani Sulikowski described the statue as “laughably bad”. “It doesn't even look an iota like her, does it?” she wrote on X. “Am I blind, or is that just nothing like the Queen? Surely they pay a fortune for these commissioned pieces - is there no requirement that there actually be a likeness?”
Another X user said: “It is awful...It looks nothing like the Queen or the Prince.. Terrible..Dreadful..Melt it down and start again”.
This statues do not look like the late Queen or Prince Philip 😳. Looks like statues of some random people. pic.twitter.com/74DZw5QdjT
— Lucia Princess (@LuciaPrincess8) September 6, 2024
Nadine Jasper shared a photo of the Queen’s bust, writing: “Would you know this was the late Queen if I didn't tell you?
“This is an abomination & exactly why I do not trust the designs for her official monument down London.”
Others have suggested the Queen, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, is “too tall” and should have been made to appear older.
Adele Zaslawska said: “Is it just me, but it looks like the Queen’s arms are on back to front.”
“Or has Philip has got her arms…that might be it?” she joked. “And there must have been a mix up in the factory with the faces. There’s a statue out there somewhere with the Queen’s face I expect.”Others compared it to the bronze bust of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo which was widely ridiculed on social media after it was unveiled in 2017.
The statue was unveiled at Antrim Castle Gardens on September 6, at a ceremony conducted to mark the two-year anniversary of her death, on September 8, 2022.
Created by local artist Anto Brennan, it has been placed beside an existing statue of the late Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, “highlighting their united presence throughout their remarkable lives”, along with statues of the monarch’s beloved corgis.
The sculpture is one of the first of its kind in the UK, created to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II, but there are plans underway for others to be created.
It was announced last week that an official memorial will be placed in St James’ Park in central London.
The final designs for the piece, which is expected to be a sculpture or statue, will be revealed on what would have been the Queen’s 100th birthday year in 2026.
The monument is expected to sit close to the Mall and within a stones’ throw of Buckingham Palace, between the Marlborough Gate and the blue bridge across the pond in the middle of the famous park.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly, praised the Antrim artwork.
Britain is full of bad public art that seems to have no particular reason to be where it is and gives little to its surroundings, let alone inspires or moves anyone. This is a case in point - the bronze statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh was unveiled… pic.twitter.com/tZzcqABpQW
— Richard Morris (@ahistoryinart) September 7, 2024
“The unveiling of this beautiful statue is a tribute not only to Her Majesty’s extraordinary life and reign but also to her deep connection with the people of our Borough,” he said. “This memorial will stand as a lasting reminder of her dedication to service, her resilience, and her ability to unite people across generations.”
Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM, also spoke at the ceremony, saying: “Although her life was devoted to public service, Queen Elizabeth was perhaps happiest when enjoying outdoor life, particularly walking in the countryside and spending time with her dogs.
“It is therefore very fitting that we are unveiling a bronze sculpture in her memory here in the beautiful surroundings of Antrim Castle Gardens.”
