Equestrian statue of Edward VII, London

Equestrian statue of Edward VII
Artist	Bertram Mackennal
Completion date	1921
Subject	Edward VII
Location	London
Coordinates	51°30′24″N0°07′56″W / 51.5067°N 0.1321°W / 51.5067; -0.1321
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Statue of King Edward VII
Designated	5 February 1970
Reference no.	1273712

The equestrian statue of Edward VII is a Grade II listed statue that sits just north of the Duke of York Column on Waterloo Place. ^[1] The street has a number of memorials and monuments, and a statue of Robert Napier had previously stood on the site since 1891.

The statue was commissioned in 1912 but delayed by the First World War to be eventually completed in 1921 by Australian sculptor Bertram Mackennal. It is in bronze upon a Portland stone pedestal, depicting Edward VII wearing Field Marshal's uniform. This choice was perhaps made to reflect Britain's participation and victory in the war despite it being after Edward VII's death.

Originally there had been plans for a larger and more elaborate memorial, and arguments over where to site it. ^[2] Green Park and St James Park were raised as possible candidate but both met with significant resistance. ^[3] Eventually, on the advice of George V such plans would be replaced by the equestrian statue that ended up put up in Waterloo Place. ^[4]

References

1. "Statue of King Edward VII, Non Civil Parish – 1273712 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
2. Darke, Jo (1991). The monument guide to England and Wales: a national portrait in bronze and stone. London: Macdonald Illustrated. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-356-17609-3.
3. Blackwood, John; Irwin, Caroline, eds. (1989). London's immortals: the complete outdoor commemorative statues (1. publ ed.). London: Savoy Pr. pp. 73–74. ISBN   978-0-9514296-0-0.
4. Baker, Margaret (2002). Discovering London statues and monuments. Discovering series (5. ed., revised and updated ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-7478-0495-6.

External links

• Media related to Equestrian statue of Edward VII, Waterloo Place, London at Wikimedia Commons