Kensington's Statue of Queen Vic
Queen Victoria, who became known as the 'Grandmother of Europe', has more dedications, place namings and other commemorations than any other non-religious figure - including thousands of statues. One of these is situated at Kensington Palace, London, and was sculpted by Victoria's fourth child Princess Louise.
Queen Victoria was herself born at Kensington Palace in 1819, and at the time she was only fifth in line to the throne. By the time she was 18, a quick succession of deaths amongst her relatives sped up her path to accession. She accepted the crown as an inexperienced teenager, and ruled over 'the Empire on which the sun never sets' for 64 years - earning an image of a stout elderly lady in black mourning the early loss of her husband Prince Albert for many years, as she did so.
There are at least ten full-length statues on public display in London of Victoria. The one at Kensington Palace was erected in 1893, and was made to celebrate Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 - although it took some years to build. The statue itself is white marble and sits firmly on a Portland stone base.
It was commissioned by the Kensington Golden Jubilee Memorial Executive Committee, who sought design proposals. Although, Princess Louise was hesitant to take up a commission to sculpt her mother, she was persuaded to make a model by her friend, artist Lawrence Alma- Tadema.
Princess Louise submitted her entry anonymously, and it was selected by the judging panel. Princess Louise, who was a resident at Kensington Palace, sculpted the statue at her studio there. However, it was suggested by some press reports that the sculpture was made by her tutor Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. The finished work was unveiled by Queen Victoria on 28th June 1893.
The nose of the statue has experienced its fair share of cosmetic damage. During the Second World War, after being wounded by shrapnel, the damaged nose was given a nose job before the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. The nose was replaced a second time for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012.
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