QUEEN ELIZABETH UNVEILS STATUE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

QUEEN ELIZABETH RECENTLY UNVEILED A UNIQUE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. AN IMPOSING FLAME-HAIRED ELIZABETH I GLARED DOWN ON THE CURRENT MONARCH AS THE QUEEN HELPED WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND SCHOOL REACH A HISTORIC LANDMARK. THERE TO HELP CELEBRATE THE 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANTING OF THE INSTITUTION'S ROYAL CHARTER, THE CURRENT HOLDER OF THE THRONE UNVEILED A STRIKINGLY MODERN OVERSIZED STATUE OF HER FOREBEAR. SHE ALSO INSPECTED A CHAIR SHE LAST SAT ON MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO, A CORONATION SEAT USED BY ALMOST EVERY MONARCH SINCE 1308. IN 1560, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, WHICH THEN FULLY INCORPORATED THE SCHOOL, WAS GRANTED A ROYAL CHARTER BY ELIZABETH I. ARRIVING IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE, THE QUEEN, DRESSED IN A DEEP PINK OUTFIT, ATTENDED A SPECIAL SERVICE AT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP. IN NOTES INCLUDED IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE, SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ABBEY'S PLACE 'CLOSE TO THE HEART OF THE SOVEREIGN' AND ITS ROLE IN REFLECTING AND INSPIRING UK LIFE. AFTER BEING LED THROUGH THE CHURCH ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, THE QUEEN TOOK HER PLACE AS GUEST OF HONOUR FOR THE PROCEEDINGS. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE SHE INSPECTED THE ORIGINAL CHARTER BEFORE INSPECTING CONSERVATION WORK ON THE CHAIR. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN IT SINCE HER OWN CORONATION IN 1953. FROM THE ABBEY, THE QUEEN WAS LED TO THE NEIGHBORING WESTMINSTER SCHOOL WHERE SHE OFFICIALLY OPENED A NEW EDUCATIONAL CENTER. A GROUP OF EIGHT AND NINE YEAR OLDS HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED TO PUT ON A DISPLAY OF ELIZABETHAN DANCE FOR THE OCCASION. THE MEDIEVAL THEME WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY DISTURBED BY THE LOUD CLICK AS THE LATE 20th CENTURY TAPE PLAYER DECIDED IT HAD HAD ENOUGH AS THE MONARCH ENTERED, PUTTING AN ABRUPT END TO THE MUSIC. BUT A QUICK SWITCH OF TAPE PUT THE YOUNGSTERS BACK ON TRACK. IT WAS THEN THE TURN OF THE QUEEN TO UNVEIL THE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I IN THE SCHOOL COURTYARD. AS SHE PULLED THE PURPLE COVERING FROM THE STATUE, SHE WAS CONFRONTED WITH AN 8ft STONE AND BRASS SCULPTURE OF ELIZABETH I, COMPLETE WITH A LARGE MARBLE RUFF. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH APPEARED TICKLED BY THE ARTWORK, POINTING TO IT AND CHUCKLING AT ONE POINT. BUT ITS CREATOR, SCULPTOR MATTHEW SPLENDOR, SAID THE ROYAL GUESTS APPEARED IMPRESSED. 'THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE TECHNIQUE I USED AND THE MATERIALS', HE SAID AFTER TALKING WITH THE ROYAL PAIR. FROM THERE, THE QUEEN WAS GUIDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL TO CHEERS OF THE GATHERED BOYS AND GIRLS. 'HIP HIP HURRAH', THEY CHANTED IN UNION TO THE QUEEN'S DELIGHT.