A newly unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II at Antrim Castle in Northern Ireland has sparked controversy.
A New Look
The statue, which also features Prince Philip and two of the Queen's beloved corgis, was created by artist Anto Brennan.
While the figures of Prince Philip and the dogs have been positively received, many have criticized the depiction of the Queen, saying it does not accurately resemble her.
Local councilor Vera McWilliam stated, "It doesn’t look like the Queen at all," a view shared by many other residents and visitors.
Another tourist from London, visiting with friends, said that while the statue was a fitting tribute, it didn’t look like the Queen. "Prince Philip and the corgis look fine, but the Queen does not resemble her," he commented.
Diables Comments to Stop Dispute
Despite the criticism, others defended the work. Brenda, a visitor from Lisburn, thought the Queen should have been portrayed as older but still found the sculpture charming.
She noted, "It’s very sweet. You can see who they are, but they could have captured her older image better."
Another visitor, Francis, was enthusiastic about the statue, praising the youthful depiction of the Queen. He said, "They captured her perfectly. I think both the Queen and Prince Philip would have been pleased."
Due to the divided reactions, the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough’s social media post about the statue had its comment section disabled after receiving numerous critiques.
Vice Mayor Paul Dunlop addressed the controversy by saying, "Everyone has their own opinion, but what matters is what the statue represents." The statue was commissioned in January 2023, two years after the Queen’s passing.
