Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Become First Royals to See Queen Elizabeth's Memorial Statue

Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh are viewing Queen Elizabeth’s historic memorial statue for the first time.

The first statue made in tribute to the late Queen following her death in September 2022 was revealed to the royal couple during their visit to Oakham, Rutland in England on May 14.

Video of the emotional moment was shared to X by GHR P'borough Stamford & Rutland News, where Edward, 60, and Sophie, 59, marveled at the statue of his late mother outside Oakham Library before a local crowd. 

While their reactions weren't caught on camera, the royal couple became the first members of the British royal family to see the Queen’s statue in person since its unveiling on April 21, which would have been the late Queen's 98th birthday.

The bronze statue, which stands seven-feet tall, shows Queen Elizabeth as a young woman surrounded by her beloved corgis atop a stone plinth. The effigy is "England's first permanent memorial to Her Late Majesty," following her death at age 96 in September 2022, the Rutland City Council stated at the time. 

Prince Edward and Sophie have been known as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh since his 59th birthday in March 2023, when King Charles conferred the title created for their late father, Prince Philip, on his youngest brother. Sophie became the Duchess of Edinburgh in the same sweep, inheriting the title used by then-Princess Elizabeth upon her marriage to Philip in 1947 and before her sudden accession to the throne in 1952.

Edward and Sophie traveled to Rutland, England's smallest county, on May 14, stepping out at Rutland County Showground and Oakham Castle by car before moving to Oakham Library to see Queen Elizabeth’s statue, per Lincs Online. 

The sculpture was commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. Sarah Furness, after the Queen’s death and raised through $155,000 of donations.

"We are witnessing a piece of history today with the first statue of Queen Elizabeth to be commissioned since her death and who gave us 70 years of exemplary service," the lord-lieutenant said at the unveiling last month, per The Telegraph.

"Rutland may be a small county, but the response to this had been huge with contributions from local businesses and individuals of varying sizes," she added.

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Prince Edward and Sophie’s trip to Rutland marks their latest outing as they have continued with royal duty as King Charles and Kate Middleton receive cancer treatment.

The King, 75, resumed forward-facing duties on April 30 and hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on May 14, while the Princess of Wales, 42, remains outside of the spotlight.