A towering statue of Queen Elizabeth the Second has been unveiled before a crowd of hundreds in England's smallest county, Rutland.
The town of Oakham was chosen for a community-funded tribute to the late monarch with it being the first of its kind to be unveiled since the death of the Queen.
The 7ft tall statue, standing upon a 5ft plinth in the library gardens, features three corgi which were the Queen's favourite dog.
Donations totalling around £140,000 for the figure were made in varying sizes, yet almost all given by individuals in the late Queen's memory.
Donations totalling around £140,000 for the figure were made in varying sizes, yet almost all given by individuals in the late Queen's memory
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She said: "When Her Majesty died, the whole world seemed to pause. In Rutland, I was inundated with people making phone calls and writing saying how they felt her loss, not just as our head of state but personally as well."
The Lord-Lieutenant is the monarch's representative within a county area. The image chosen for the figure is of Queen Elizabeth in early middle age because "it's important that we see her in her prime."
"She had given us continuity and stability through an immense period of change," said Dr Furness. "
Hywel Pratley spent more than a year sculpting the bronze statue with work beginning in January 2023.
He said "I am a big fan of public sculpture being integral to a friendly, caring community. I hope that they look after it and enjoy it's presence. I think it's very harmonious here."
More than 800kg of clay was used to cover a steel and aluminium frame, plus 120 kg of silicone rubber for a mould. Finally, 567kg of bronze was melted at 1140°C to cast the statue.
Local businesses including Blanc Foundry in Melton Mowbray and Smithers Purslow worked alongside the sculptor to complete the figure which stands on Ancaster limestone found in the area.
Lord-Lieutenant Dr. Sarah Furness commissioned the sculpture to Britain's longest reigning monarch in response to the depth of loss felt by the community in Rutland when the Queen died.
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Hywel Pratley spent more than a year sculpting the bronze statue with work beginning in January 2023
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Hywel continued, "It's a testament to her legacy. It's something that matters."
A verse of the National Anthem, 'God Save the King', followed the unveiling of the statue.
"I think it captures our late majesty's humanity, but also she looks so regal with her crown and robes," said one Rutlander.
"She is the Queen, she is great, she is brilliant and we miss her," said Joyce Luchas, 89, from Oakham.
Elizabeth Mills, 77, of Rutland, said, "She was the most fantastic leader, an example to all of us."
Both old and young lined the streets of Oakham where traffic had been diverted as sheer numbers spilled into the road.
"She reigned for a long time. She was a strong leader and stuck to her word when she first took the crown," said Millie Bailey, 16, from Oakham.
Hundreds gathered in Oakham to witness the statue's unveiling
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Amongst the crowds were some 46 corgi and their owners whom are members of the Welsh Corgi League.
Charlie Farrow, with her dog Edith, 62 from Newbury, said, "We were delighted to be invited and we love to go to a corgi meet anyway. We've come 100 miles from Berkshire."
She continued: "The best thing about her majesty is she loved corgis like we do. In many respects she symbolises what we see in the corgi - they are steadfast and loyal."
Alicia Kearns MP, the Conservative representing Rutland and Melton, is hoping the new statue encourages a sense of pride across Britain, plus entices visitors to the tiny county.
She said, "People often talk down our legacy, our history, our traditions. Today's turnout shows the absolute opposite. We are so proud of our history, we are so proud of Her Majesty and we want to come together in celebration of British traditions."
The piece was unveiled by the Bishop of Peterborough, Rutland's MP and the Lord-Lieutenant, who proudly celebrated the detail that three women representing church, monarchy and government were revealing a statue of England's longest reigning monarch, also a woman.
Rev. Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Peterborough, said, "It's good to celebrate something that is so important for the whole community. It feels a privilege for the church to be involved in this unveiling."
