Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace

 The statue of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace... celebrating 132 years!

This statue was actually designed and carved (though not the full-scale model) by Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise - a talented sculptress! - and has stood on the same spot outside the Palace since it was first unveiled by Queen Victoria herself on 28 June 1893.

Erected to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, the statue bears a very close likeness to the Coronation portrait of Her Majesty, painted by Sir George Hayter between 1838 and 1840.

Did you know that despite requests to protect it from potential bomb damage during the Second World War, it was left unprotected and suffered the loss of the tip of the nose? Fortunately, the nose was replaced in 1952 for the accession of Queen Victoria’s great-great-granddaughter… Queen Elizabeth II!

(Photos via Historic Royal Palaces & @Lucy_Worsley on X / Portrait: “Queen Victoria (1819-1901)” by Sir George Hayter, 1840 via the Royal Collection Trust)

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