Queen Elizabeth statue unveiled on her birthday with Corgi gathering

Queen Elizabeth’s second posthumous birthday was celebrated in a big way in England’s smallest county.

On April 21, what would have been the late Queen’s 98th birthday, a seven-foot bronze statue depicting the monarch as a young woman with a corgi at her feet was unveiled outside Oakham Local Library , in Rutland, the smallest county in England. Rutland Town Council said the effigy was “England’s first permanent memorial to the late Her Majesty”, who died in September 2022 aged 96.

Hywel Brân Pratley’s statue imagined a young Queen Elizabeth standing in ceremonial dress with the George IV tiara on her head, the sash of the Order of the Garter on her dress and one of her beloved corgis playing at his feet. The sculptor gave a preview of his creation last year and added two additional corgis to the base of the statue for the final product.

The larger-than-life sculpture was commissioned by Dr Sarah Furness, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, following the Queen’s death in September 2022. Around $155,000 was raised to make the project possible, and Furness spoke about the importance of the project. posthumous statue during the inauguration ceremony.

“Today we are witnessing a piece of history with the first statue of Queen Elizabeth commissioned since her death and who has given us 70 years of exemplary service,” said the lord lieutenant, according to The telegraph.

“Rutland may be a small county, but the response has been enormous, thanks to contributions from local businesses and individuals of all sizes,” she continued.

The big reveal was attended by hundreds of people as well as corgis from the Welsh Corgi League, some dressed festively with patriotic bandanas.

Corgis became synonymous with Queen Elizabeth during her record-breaking 70-year reign, starting with Susan, the pet she received as a gift for her 18th birthday. Susan became the furry matriarch of 14 generations of dogs owned by Queen Elizabeth, and the monarch owned more than 30 corgis and “dorgis” (daschund-corgi mixes) throughout her life.

Caroline Perry, author of The Corgi and the Queenpreviously told PEOPLE that the often rambunctious dogs were an expression of the Queen’s personality.

“She couldn’t choose her life, but she could choose her companions,” Perry said. “The fact that these corgis were so feisty and so lively and so playful, I think in a way it was her way of expressing what she was feeling inside but wasn’t able to convey .She was so prim and proper and never put a foot wrong, did she? Yet these naughty dogs do all kinds of things that she might have wished she could do.

Sarah Ferguson adopted the Queen’s last two corgis, Sandy and Muick, after her death and previously told PEOPLE she had to take care of them.

“They are national icons, so every time they run after a squirrel I panic,” the Duchess of York said. “But they’re total joys, and I always think that when they’re barking at nothing and there’s no squirrels in sight, I think it’s because the Queen is passing by.”

Pratley said he incorporated the dogs into the royal-inspired statue in the 1950s and 1960s to “harness the late queen’s humanity and respond to her kindness”.

“I very quickly thought that I would like to have a corgi nestled in her dress at her feet because what a great symbol, artistically, of her being the mother of a nation,” he said. The telegraph.

The sculptor said he completed the creation with a plinth to sit on and could see it “becoming popular with the Instagram generation”.

“It will make a perfect backdrop for photos and people will be able to reach out and pet a dog or, if it’s small enough, even sit on its back,” said Pratley, who posted photos of the crowd and corgis on his Instagram stories.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The new statue was unveiled by Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, who said King Charles would visit the statue. The king, 75, has postponed his public duties while he receives treatment for cancer, a diagnosis announced by Buckingham Palace on February 5.

On April 21, what would have been his late mother’s birthday, the king was spotted heading to church with Queen Camilla near Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Although the royal couple did not pay a public tribute to the late queen as they did during her posthumous first birthday in 2023, former royal butler Grant Harrold said he believed the royal family would mark this moment privately this year with reflections, tributes and toasts. his honor.

“Privately, I have no doubt they will toast her in the evening. I’m sure the day will be spent reflecting on the late queen,” Harrold told Slingo.