Chichester sculptor unveils his Queen Elizabeth II memorial vision for Trafalgar Square

Calls for the Queen to be honoured with a statue on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth were met with widespread support in the House of Commons when they were first mooted a couple of weeks ago. Vincent has now submitted a proposal – for a twice life size bronze sculpture showing the Queen in her prime –which he describes for the moment as purely speculative: “There is a procedure with a lengthy waiting list. All applications go before a committee at www.London.gov.uk but unless one tries…”

Vincent, whose Chichester works include Keats and Nelson/Murray, has offered an artist’s impression using his Queen maquette (or model) which is in currently in Chichester Library on open-ended display. The piece is a 24-inch maquette in resin which Vincent produced for a commission process in which he was eventually runner-up.

“There was an opportunity to portray her on horseback, but I thought in this instance less is more and I just wanted to show the Queen in her of the Garter robes. I wanted to show her beauty. I wanted to capture her in her youth, in her prime and to show her dignity.

“In 2019 I was approached by Lt Col Richard Bredin, Sandhurst’s staff quartermaster saying that my name had been put forward to enter into a commission to produce a design for The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst which was to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign.

"The sculpture should be a life and a half representation of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and cast in bronze. He went on to say ‘Are you interested?’ ‘Yes’ I said. Some months later, my design along with the three other sculptors shortlisted, were invited to present to the academy. I arrived early in order to compose myself and learned I was to be first up. The sound of marching feet on gravel echoing in my ear, I laid bare my proposal to four Sandhurst officers and two military historians. I was however made to feel at ease. Following my presentation to the board of six I came to learn my design had been shortlisted once more. We were now down to two. The next stage was to present to the Palace but due to the pandemic the two designs along with supporting documentation were sent ahead. I learnt my design was runner-up.

“My design shows the Queen aged 40 dressed in the Order of the Garter Robes and standing atop a Portland Stone plinth. We were each paid for the design of the maquette and since then it has been residing in my studio along with other projects past, present and future. Having been a long-standing supporter of the library, I thought I would make contact with Gareth Edmunds who in turn has shown support for me over many years, asking if he would like to have the maquette on display. His answer was yes.”