Queen jokes her statue could be ‘quite alarming’
The Queen has been commended for always putting duty first despite her family’s concerns after she appeared in a video call with officials in South Australia. Her former press secretary Dickie Arbiter wrote on Twitter: “Despite being thousands of miles away in Windsor Castle the Queen, with her stamina, commitment, sense of humour, and, all the while Prince Philip is in hospital, has unveiled a statue of herself in Australia.”
Royal fans were also quick to highlight how the Queen remains committed to the Crown no matter which worries she may be harbouring in private.
One, wrote: “She’s truly amazing. Her sense of duty is inspirational.”
A Canadian fan said: “She’s irreplaceable”.
A third fan, speaking about the Queen’s strong sense of duty, said: “Unbelievable work ethic and charisma”.
Queen news: The Queen’s video meeting took place last week (Image: THE ROYAL FAMILY TWITTER/ GETTY)
Queen news: The Queen during a meeting with officials in South Australia (Image: ROYAL FAMILY TWITTER)
Another showered the Queen with compliments saying: “Your Queen is unbelievable, amazing, fantastic in her incredible almost 95 years of age. Love her.”
Finally, a social media user said: “HM is marvellous, so alert and still working at 94, she must be so worried right now about her husband, really strong woman, unique actually.”
As revealed by Buckingham Palace yesterday evening, the Queen took part in a meeting with the governor of South Australia, His Excellency the Hon. Hieu Van Le, and Marshall Steven, the premier of South Australia.
During the call, which took place last week, the Queen heard how the region is handling the COVID-19 emergency.
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Queen news: The Queen speaking from Windsor Castle (Image: THE ROYAL FAMILY TWITTER)
The call took a lighter turn after the monarch virtually unveiled a statue of her and located on the grounds of Government House.
Speaking also to Robert Hannaford, who created the statue, she said: “I would think possibly it might be quite alarming to suddenly see it out of the window.
“You’d think, gracious, has she arrived unexpectedly?”
The sculpture depicts a smiling Queen in her most famous attire, wearing a coat and a hat while carrying her trademark handbag.
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Queen news: The Queen and Prince Philip have been married for seven decades (Image: GETTY)
Queen news: Prince Philip leaving King Edward VII Hospital (Image: GETTY)
After hearing the statue had become quite popular, with many people taking a picture with it and confessing to feeling closer to the Queen thanks to the art piece, the monarch looked delighted.
Mr Hannaford also presented the Queen with a scale model of his artwork to be shipped at once to Windsor.
The Queen, grateful, joked: “That’s very kind. I’m glad it’s not quite as big as the original statue.”
The call took place into Prince Philip’s second week at King Edward VII Hospital.
Queen news: The Queen ascended to the throne in 1952 (Image: EXPRESS)
And it was released yesterday evening after the Duke of Edinburgh was moved to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, an NHS trust famous in Europe for its Heart Centre, where he is expected to remain for a few more days.
Updating the public on Prince Philip’s health condition, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Duke of Edinburgh was today transferred from King Edward VII’s Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition.
“The Duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.”
The transfer to another hospital two weeks into the Duke’s treatment has been seen as a positive sign by royal biographer Penny Junor.
Queen news: The Queen and Prince Philip during a public engagement (Image: GETTY)
She told BBC Breakfast: “Well I have to say I feel cautiously optimistic that he’s moved.
“If they had been looking at end of life, they wouldn’t have gone through the discomfort of moving him.
“I think you know, they have discovered there is something wrong with his heart, it’s a pre-existing condition and St Barts is the top hospital for cardiac problems.
“We can be optimistic. He is in the right hands, he’s in the right place. He has been there for two weeks and it is a long stay, particularly for someone of 99 to be in a bed.
“I’m sure he will be getting weaker because of that because this is a very active man under normal circumstances.
“I think we should not give up yet. I’m sure he hasn’t.”
