Photo by Black Taxi Tours of London
Few London landmarks announce your arrival quite like the Victoria Memorial. Standing proudly before Buckingham Palace, its gleaming marble, golden sculpture and sweeping fountains form one of the capital’s most photographed royal scenes. Yet this grand monument is relatively young: it was unveiled just over a century ago, in 1911, as a tribute to Queen Victoria and the remarkable era she represented.
Queen Victoria died in 1901 after a reign of more than 63 years. Her son, Edward VII, conceived the memorial as part of a much larger transformation of the area around Buckingham Palace. Architect Sir Aston Webb redesigned the setting, while sculptor Sir Thomas Brock created the monument itself. The ambitious project took almost a decade to plan before King George V finally unveiled it on 16 May 1911.
Look upwards and the symbolism becomes clear. At the summit stands a gilded figure of Winged Victory, while below are figures representing qualities such as Truth, Justice, Courage and Constancy. Facing Buckingham Palace is a particularly touching group called Motherhood, intended to evoke Victoria’s maternal love for her people.
After the unveiling, sculptor Thomas Brock was knighted in recognition of his work on the monument, a fitting royal reward for the man who had spent years creating one of London’s most spectacular memorials.
Today, the Victoria Memorial is the perfect place to begin a visit to royal London. From here, you can admire Buckingham Palace, stroll along The Mall towards Trafalgar Square, or wander into St James’s Park.
See the Victoria Memorial on a black cab tour of London!
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