Royal Watch News

Prince Edward to unveil bronze portrait of the Queen

Jan 29, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Prince Edward

Britain's Prince Edward will unveil a bronze portrait of Queen Elizabeth today (28.01.13).

The British royal - also known as the Earl of Wessex - has travelled to Winchester in Hampshire for the grand reveal of a giant statue of his mother in the city's Great Hall to mark her Diamond Jubilee.

The Hampshire Rose-shaped monument boasts an engraving of the 86-year-old monarch wearing a necklace and diamond tiara and was paid for with donations from the public as well as Winchester City and Hampshire County Council.

Andover-based artist Vivien Mallock has previously done work for the royal family, notably the Golden Jubilee sculpture which stands in Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays.

The Daily Echo reports that the 48-year-old prince is also due to open the university in Winchester's £6 million new building, St Alphege, which features up-to-the-minute learning facilities.

Edward's royal duties will hopefully not be foiled by adverse weather this time, after a forecast of freezing fog stopped him from unveiling Leicester's De Montfort University's £8 million Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee leisure centre last week (24.01.13).

The engagement was postponed amid fears his helicopter would not be able to fly safely.