New Statue of Queen Elizabeth Draws Criticism That It Doesn’t Resemble the Late Monarch ‘In Any Shape or Form’
The bronze sculpture, created by Northern Ireland artist Anto Brennan, was unveiled in the Antrim Castle Gardens on Friday, Sept. 6.
However, shortly after it was revealed in the public park, several people took to social media to voice both positive and negative feedback for its depiction of Queen Elizabeth.
“We have to be honest, it does not resemble the queen in any shape or form,” Antrim and Newtownabbey counselor Vera McWilliam told BBC News.
Antrim local Richard told the outlet that he was also “really disappointed” after seeing the statue in person, which depicts Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in their everyday attire along with two of the Queen’s beloved corgis,. “Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested,” he said. “It’s not good.”
Going a step further, he added, “I would take it away. It doesn’t do anything in memory for Her Majesty, so definitely I would remove it.”
Several people echoed his sentiments online under the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough’s post about the new sculpture. One person wrote, “Dreadful…take it down. It’s an insult to Her Majesty,” while another added, “Both need [to be] removed and melted down and redone.”
That said, the feedback wasn’t all bad. Antrim officials and some UK residents shared a more positive outlook on the statue, including the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly, who described the statue as “beautiful” and said it was a “tribute not only to Her Majesty’s extraordinary life and reign but also to her deep connection with the people of our Borough.”
Northern Ireland resident Brenda also praised the state for its uniqueness, telling BBC News that the statue “caught my eye right away.” She explained that “on the whole it is really nice,” though she wished that the statue of the queen was “made to look older.”
