Vandalized Statue of Queen Anne: Legends, History, and Moving Locations

Located at No. 15 Queen Anne’s Gate, in the heart of Westminster, London, stands the Grade I listed statue of Queen Anne. Carved from Portland stone, the statue portrays Queen Anne adorned in a brocaded skirt, bodice, open cloak, a small crown, and holding an orb and sceptre. The statue, originally erected in Queen Square in 1705, stands on a plinth with the inscription 'ANNA REGINA'. The statue's sculptor and date of origin remain unknown. The initial vandalism, attributed to local children, was due to the statue being associated with the ill-reputed Queen Mary.

The inscription 'ANNA REGINA' added to the pedestal in 1862, as part of the restoration work by John Thomas, aimed to alleviate this issue. Another rumor surrounding the statue is that on the anniversary of Queen Anne’s death, the statue miraculously climbs down and walks three times up and down the street. Over the subsequent centuries, the statue has been moved from its original location in Queen Square to several other positions in the square and its current location at No. 15 Queen Anne’s Gate.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons