Prince Albert
Holborn Circus, London

Created by Charles Bacon in 1874 of Queen Victoria's beloved consort.

Prince Albert was the mastermind behind the Great Exhibition of 1851. Using the profits from that event he commissioned the building of the Royal Albert Hall and museums.

Queen Victoria mourned the death of Albert, of typhoid in 1861, until her own death.

Boudicca, the Queen who took on Nero.

Boudicca, or Boadicea as she is sometimes known,  fought, lost, and ended up taking her own life. But the lesson she taught the Romans changed their harsh way of dealing with the people they conquered. Bravo, fair Queen. Her statue can be seen, since 1902, near the Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge, on the Thames River. (Across from Big Ben and Parliament.) Created in 1850 by Thomas Thornycroft.

About this statue:

"A typically "English" gesture - to raise a statue in London someone who razed London to the ground!" - Philip


"It represents true English spirit and our no non-sense approach to invasion. Boudicca demonstrated true girl power and what it is to be an "Englishwoman." One thing for sure; she certainly kicked arse long before the likes of Churchill or the Spice Girls."- Caroline
 

King George IV - "First Gentleman of Europe"
Trafalgar Square, London.

King George IV seems best known for the marriage he had that wasn't, the marriage he had that didn't, and the 7000 women he was said to have bedded. Oh, and for being extravagant and perhaps not quite balanced in life. Perhaps indeed.

But.. To his everlasting credit and good taste, in 1821 our good King George IV commissioned the Unicorn Gate at Kew Gardens. You can see that below.
 

Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen, Hyde Park Corner, London

"There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom and endurance I never saw his fellow." - Wellington

Today almost hidden in trees, this huge statue has been the past centre of much public controversy. Too big, not accurate, celebrating ego instead of true Victorian Values. Moved, moved back. Today, it's all okay. Wellington is remembered and Copenhagen is still admired.
 

Boer War Monument to the Royal Artillery
The Mall, London

Just west of the Admiralty Arches on the way to Buckingham Palace. By W. R. Colton , 1902.
 

St George and the Dragon
Monument to the Cavalry of the Empire, Hyde Park, London

Originally located at Stanhope Gate on it's completion by Adrian Jones in 1924, this statue was moved to its present position in 1961. Adrian Jones spent 24 years as an army vet and cast his bronze monument from captured guns.
 

Animals In War
Brook Gate, Park Lane, London

To honour the millions of conscripted animals that served, suffered, and died in 20th century wars and conflicts.

Unicorn Gate
Kew Gardens, London

This majestic beauty sits atop the Unicorn Gate in Kew Gardens. Commissioned in 1821 by King George IV and designed by Thomas Hardwicke (pupil of Sir William Chambers) it was made of moulded Coade stone.

The gate is no longer used by the public and is easy to miss in the darkened and tree filled area in which it resides. Look for him, he's too lovely to miss.

Richard the Lion Heart, Westminster Palace, Parliament Buildings, London

Richard I (Coeur de Lion) by Italian sculptor Baron Carlo Marochetti (a favorite of Prince Albert) and paid for by public subscription. It was originally placed outside the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park but was installed in Westminster in 1860.

On the pedestal are scenes in the life of the Crusader.

George, Duke of Clarence
Whitehall, London

George was one of those fellows who made some not-as-good-as-they-could-be choices in life. Marrying against the wishes of King, and following that with more questionable choices, he was finally, out of exasperation perhaps, convicted of treason on the accusation of this own brother and given a "private" execution at the Tower on February 18th, 1478.

Legend has it that he was executed, or murdered, depending upon the point of view you consider, by drowning in a butt of Malmsey wine, that being his chosen method of execution to honour his great love of the beverage. The body believed to be his shows no sign of beheading, the favoured method of execution in the Tower, so perhaps it's even true. The Madeira wine "Duke of Clarence" is named for this event.