King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial

On the North-West side of The Mall sits two bronze statues, gazing in the direction of Buckingham Palace. The sculpture situated higher up is of George VI and was created by William McMillan. Dressed in a naval uniform, the statue of George VI was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1955. Then again in 2009, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled another statue, of the Kings wife Elizabeth (Elizabeth II’s Mother), reuniting the two Royals together again in death. The bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth is the work of Philip Jackson and although Elizabeth passed away at the age of 101 in 2002, was modelled from when she was 51 and recently widowed. Queen Elizabeth is dressed in the flowing robes of a Garter Knight. The Order of the Garter is the oldest Order of Chivalry in Britain. Inspired by the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, King Edward III established the Order of the Garter in the 1300s. Once reserved for male aristocrats, Garter Knights are now a mixed group of people chosen in recognition for their public service as well as senior Members of the Royal Family.