Council defends statue commemorating late Queen after mixed reviews

A council has defended a new statue commemorating Queen Elizabeth II after some online critics questioned its likeness to the late monarch.

The bronze sculpture, created by artist Anto Brennan, has received mixed reviews from members of the public since it was unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland last Friday.

It was commissioned by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and is said to “capture Her Majesty in a dignified pose, reflecting her grace, steadfastness and lifelong dedication to public service”.

In response to the attention generated by the statue, the council acknowledged that art can prompt “diverse opinions” but said it was “delighted” with the “generally positive” response.

The council insisted that social media “may amplify certain negative viewpoints”.

The sculpture stands adjacent to a statue of the Queen’s late husband, Prince Philip, which was created by the same artist, and also features two of their many corgis.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council posted the images of the sculpture on its social media sites, however, it drew quite a lot of criticism online.

Comments have since been turned off.

DUP councillor John Smyth was among those who attended the unveiling last week.

Mr Smyth, who is a councillor for Antrim town, said he was “surprised” when he first saw the sculpture.

“I’m glad to say I wasn’t on the committee that designed it, as such,” he said.

Asked what he thought of the sculpture, he said: “Surprising, probably. It looked OK from a distance.

“I thought the facial could be slightly better. Compared to the Duke of Edinburgh statue, which I was involved in, (which) I’d say is a better one.

“It has more likeness (to the Prince), and definitely looks well. It’s like any work in bronze, it’s hard to make anything a perfect replica of any person.

“It’s quite hard to cast. Anto also cast the Duke of Edinburgh one, so it’s a hard job.

“(The Queen) had a smaller stature, so even though she was an important lady, she has a smaller statue and frame.

“It has the handbag and the Scottish-style clothing. They’ve tried their best to get it as near perfect as possible but it’s a hard job.

“You can’t change it now once it’s done. Once you cast the bronze statue, that’s it.

“We were quite happy with it, we did changes to his uniform to make it more country effective, rather than military.

“I’m sure the (Queen) committee would have got a look at (the mould) and they would have seen before it was poured.

“We can’t change it, it would cost more money. People will forget about it in a few weeks’ time.”

At the time of the unveiling, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Neil Kelly expressed his “pride in the council’s efforts to honour Her Majesty’s memory”.

He said: “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.

“This memorial will stand as a lasting reminder of her dedication to service, her resilience and her ability to unite people across generations.”

“It acknowledges that art can sometimes spark diverse opinions, but it’s important to emphasise that the sculpture has been warmly received by most who have seen it in person.

“The statue beautifully captures Her Majesty’s grace and steadfastness, standing as a fitting tribute to her extraordinary life and reign.

“The council is particularly pleased with how the sculpture complements its surroundings, standing adjacent to the statue of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and accompanied by two lovingly crafted corgis.

“This thoughtful arrangement has resonated strongly with visitors, who appreciate the personal touch it brings to the memorial, within the Gardens.

“While social media may amplify certain negative viewpoints, the council encourages everyone to visit Antrim Castle Gardens and experience the sculpture first hand.

“The sculpture stands as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s remarkable legacy, and the council is proud to have it as part of the community’s cultural landscape.

“The positive sentiments shared by the majority of residents and visitors reflect the sculpture’s success in honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s memory and her enduring impact on the nation.”