Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visit Rutland's Queen memorial statue
It's the first time a royal has visited the statue
Last updated 15th May 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have visited Rutland for the first time, seeing the memorial statue to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The 7ft (2.1m) bronze statue is on display outside Oakham Library, complete with three corgis.
It cost £125,000, largely covered by donations, and took sculptor Hywel Pratley 14 months to create.
The royal couple also visited the Oakham Castle and Rutland Water on Tuesday (15/05).
Speaking to us about the royal couple, Dr Sarah Furness is Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland said:
"They have never been to Rutland before, so that's very special, and to have the Duke see both the memorial statue to his mother and also our memorial base relief at the orchard, at the showground, to his father, his late father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, is really very special indeed.
Dr Furness added she hopes the King might be the next royal to visit the statue:
"I'm nothing if not ambitious and I have actually mentioned to the King that it would be wonderful to have his horseshoe hanging above the judge's chair, but obviously we know because of illness and because the reduced number of the royal family we are immensely lucky to have the Duke and Duchess.
"I hope that in some time in the future when the King's better he will manage to to visit Rutland.
The statue was unveiled officially on the 21st April, gaining national and international attention.
Dr Furness said: "People come great distances to come and see the statue which is really exciting.
"People are coming on the train, we've heard of people coming from Scotland, from all sorts of places all over the country to see it and you know that's wonderful, because although Rutland Water is a fantastic beautiful place to visit, so many people come visit Rutland Water and then go away again and don't realise the riches that our whole county have to offer.
"So if this is a draw to bring people into county that is absolutely wonderful and you know, I think it's a great boom for Oakham our county town."