The local council told CNN that the bronze statue of the Queen “has been warmly received by most who have seen it in person.”
Although the council limited comments on its original post, the debate spread to X, formerly known as Twitter, where pictures of the sculpture gathered hundreds of thousands of views and several users compared it to the infamous bust of Cristiano Ronaldo.
On social media several user mocked the bronze statue with one user said, “Why was a sculptor, with such little talent, given the commission? Why was the sculpture accepted and signed off by the authority as a fitting memorial to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip?”
While another user said, “Sorry. Can’t let this go. WHO looked at this bronze , & said “Yeah. Looks good, mate… we’ll stick ‘em up..” WHO?? Might as well made the f**cking things out of Lego…or a cow pat… It’s just …bad…really bad…”
Meanwhile, on a Facebook a user commented, “Could be anyone.” Another wrote that the sculpture was “beautiful” but didn’t “look like our late queen or represent how she always dressed.”
“Even the corgi is confused,” another user wrote.
One of the netizens said, “A new statue designed to commemorate Elizabeth II and her Husband Prince Philip has been unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens last Saturday….It is awful…It looks nothing like the Queen or the Prince.. Terrible..Dreadful..Melt it down and start again with a different sculptor…”
The sculpture, among the first work commemorating the late Queen in the United Kingdom, was created by artist Anto Brennan as a commission from Antrim and Newton abbey Borough Council. It was installed in Antrim Castle Gardens, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) north of Belfast, and unveiled on Friday.
It depicts Elizabeth, gazing into the distance, dressed in a tweed skirt, rubber boots, checked vest and headscarf, with a handbag hanging from her left arm, and two of her famous corgis at her feet. Behind her stands a likeness of her husband, Philip, his hands behind his back.
The council acknowledged that “art can sometimes spark diverse opinions” but said that it “was particularly pleased with how the (Elizabeth) sculpture complements its surroundings, standing adjacent to the statue of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and accompanied by two lovingly crafted corgis.” CNN has reached out to Brennan for comment.