Rutland's Lord Lieutenant has reflected on the significance of the world's first memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, on the first anniversary of its unveiling.

Lord Lieutenant Sarah Furness commissioned the statue, which was paid for by donations, and a year after its unveiling outside Oakham Library she believes it has turned the space into 'a destination'.

The 7ft statue, which even has its own Facebook page, has become a tourist attraction and was valued by owners Oakham Town Council at £200,000. The queen died in 2022 aged 96, having reigned for 70 years – the longest of all British monarchs.

The Lord-Lieutenant said: "Our Rutland Queen Elizabeth statue has become a focal point in our county. It is fitting that such a long-serving and popular monarch should be remembered by a beautiful statue, which attracts many visitors both local and from far and wide, across the country and abroad.

"I am delighted that her statue will feature on tourists maps of our county as well as in many photographs. Rutland should be proud that we, the smallest county in England, led the world in having such a memorial. The statue now feels as if it has always been a part of Rutland."

The statue, which shows the former monarch with her beloved corgis, was modelled in clay and then cast into bronze at local foundry LeBlanc Fine Art. It was the work of sculptor Hywel Pratley and is the only bronze statue in the county. 

The Government is in the process of creating a memorial to the late Queen at St James' Park, close to her former home at Buckingham Palace. It will feature a memorial, and a competition is currently underway to find the winning artist.