HRH. Hip flask not pictured.
New royal statues are a rare thing these days, thanks to the tenacious longevity of the current monarch. We reckon the last blue-blooded bronze erected in London was more than 50 years ago - the statue of Liz Snr's husband, George VI, in Carlton House Terrace. Well, today we welcome a newcomer to the ranks of metallic HRHs when the Queen unveils a statue to her mother...the, erm, Queen Mother.
The bronze likeness by sculptor Philip Jackson will stand just beneath the George VI statue, and portray Ms Bowes-Lyon in her youth (aged 51) to match her august other half. The statue is flanked by frankly stunning bronze panels in high relief showing scenes from the queen's life (visiting a blitzed out East End, and 'showing her passion for animals' at Ascot). The Mail have a good mock-up, and a fine selection of commenters lamenting the lack of a non-slippery memorial to Saint Diana.
The monument was financed from sales of £5 coins commemorating the current Queen's 80th birthday. Jackson is one of Britain's best known sculptors, with a vast body of public work including the Bobby Moore statue outside Wembley and the Chelsea Pensioner outside the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
