A new life-size bronze sculpture of Elizabeth II was unveiled at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire on Friday, September 4, 2026. Created by Hampshire sculptor Amy Goodman and commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council, the statue depicts the young Queen in her Coronation Regalia and commemorates her strong connections with Romsey, Broadlands and the Mountbatten family. 

Elizabeth II Statue Unveiled at Romsey Abbey

A new life-size bronze sculpture of Elizabeth II has been unveiled at Romsey Abbey in Romsey, Hampshire, creating a permanent public tribute to the late Queen and her longstanding connections with the area.

The sculpture was unveiled on Friday, September 4, 2026, in the Abbey's north churchyard. It was created by Hampshire artist and sculptor Amy Goodman and commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council as part of a project originally developed to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The project has particular significance for Romsey because Elizabeth II had important personal and royal connections with the town and the surrounding Test Valley area. These include Broadlands, where Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon in 1947, as well as the Queen's connections with the Mountbatten family.

The new statue is intended to preserve those connections for future generations while also recognising Elizabeth II's long life of public service.

What Happened?

The unveiling ceremony took place at Romsey Abbey's north churchyard on September 4.

Test Valley Borough Council had announced in August that the ceremony would include speeches, live music and an accompanying exhibition explaining how the sculpture was created. The council said the artwork would provide a permanent tribute to the late Queen and celebrate her relationship with Romsey and the wider Test Valley.

The sculpture is one of two related artworks commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council.

The first statue was unveiled in Andover in 2024. The Romsey sculpture completes the two-part project, with the pair designed to represent Elizabeth II at different stages of her life.

While the Andover sculpture represents the Queen later in her reign, the Romsey statue depicts her as a young monarch at the time of her Coronation.

Key Details

• Subject: Queen Elizabeth II
• Location: North churchyard, Romsey Abbey, Hampshire
• Unveiling: September 4, 2026
• Artist: Amy Goodman
• Material: Bronze
• Style: Life-size figurative sculpture
• Depiction: Elizabeth II as a young monarch in Coronation Regalia
• Commissioned by: Test Valley Borough Council
• Purpose: To commemorate Elizabeth II and her connections with Romsey and Test Valley
• Related artwork: A companion Elizabeth II sculpture was unveiled in Andover in 2024.

The Elizabeth II Sculpture and Its Design

The Romsey sculpture was conceived to portray Elizabeth II at a pivotal point in her life — the beginning of her reign and her transition into a lifetime of constitutional and public service.

Test Valley Borough Council's public-art information says the statue depicts the young Queen in her Coronation Regalia.

The design also incorporates elements intended to reflect the Queen's connections to Test Valley. Her robes were developed with contributions from the local community, including memories, artwork and ideas supplied by residents and schoolchildren.

That community involvement is an important part of the project's identity. Rather than being solely a commissioned portrait, the artwork was developed with contributions from people living in the area.

Amy Goodman said the stories, memories and contributions shared by local people helped shape the sculpture and made it closely connected to the community. She also described the work as representing the Queen at a pivotal moment as she entered a lifetime of service.

Elizabeth II's Connection With Romsey

The location of the statue is not incidental.

Romsey and the surrounding Test Valley have longstanding royal associations, particularly through Broadlands, the Hampshire estate closely associated with the Mountbatten family.

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon at Broadlands in 1947, shortly after their marriage. The location therefore represents an important part of the Queen's personal history before she became monarch.

The Test Valley Council's description of the Romsey artwork specifically highlights Broadlands and the Queen's role as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England as themes influencing the design.

Placing the sculpture at Romsey Abbey therefore connects the artwork with both the Queen's local history and her role in Britain's constitutional and religious traditions.

Community Played a Major Role

One of the distinctive features of the project has been the involvement of local residents and schools.

During the development of the sculpture, community members were invited to contribute memories and artistic ideas. Local pupils also had opportunities to work with Goodman and contribute to aspects of the sculpture's development.

This approach means that the statue represents more than a formal portrait of a former monarch. It also records how people in the local area remember Elizabeth II and her association with the region.

For Test Valley Borough Council, that community connection has been central to the project's purpose.

What Officials and the Artist Said

Test Valley Borough Council Leader Councillor Phil North described the sculpture as a lasting tribute to Elizabeth II and highlighted the involvement of residents, schools and local organisations.

The council said the community's contributions helped create an artwork reflecting both the Queen's legacy and the memories of people living in the area.

Amy Goodman similarly emphasised the local contribution to the project.

She said creating the sculpture had been a privilege and that the stories and memories shared by local people influenced the design. Goodman said the finished work celebrates both Elizabeth II's entry into a lifetime of service and her special links to Romsey and the Abbey.

The Wider Two-Statue Project

The Romsey statue forms the second part of a broader Test Valley public-art commission.

According to the council, the two sculptures were originally commissioned as part of the Platinum Jubilee commemorations. Elizabeth II died in September 2022, giving the works an additional commemorative significance.

The Andover sculpture, unveiled in 2024, portrays Elizabeth II later in her reign. The Romsey version instead focuses on her younger years and Coronation.

Together, the sculptures provide two different representations of the same monarch: one at the beginning of her reign and another reflecting her later years.

Why This Matters

The unveiling gives Romsey a permanent piece of public art connected to one of the most significant figures in modern British history.

Elizabeth II reigned for more than seven decades, making her the longest-reigning British monarch. Her death in 2022 marked the end of an era, while memorials and public artworks have since become ways for communities to preserve particular local memories of her reign.

For Romsey, the significance is especially local.

The statue links the Queen's national and international role with specific places and relationships associated with Hampshire. Broadlands, the Mountbatten family and Romsey Abbey all provide context that distinguishes this memorial from a generic royal monument.

The community-led elements also mean that local memories are incorporated into the story of the artwork.

What Happens Next?

The sculpture is now intended to remain as a permanent public artwork in the north churchyard of Romsey Abbey.

An accompanying exhibition is also scheduled at Romsey Abbey following the unveiling, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the sculpture and its development. Event information lists the exhibition as running from September 4 through September 20, 2026.

The statue is therefore expected to become a lasting feature for residents and visitors exploring Romsey and the Abbey grounds.

FAQs

Who created the Elizabeth II statue at Romsey Abbey?

The sculpture was created by Amy Goodman, a Hampshire-based sculptor and portrait artist.

When was the Elizabeth II statue unveiled?

The statue was unveiled on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire. Test Valley Borough Council announced the ceremony for the north churchyard.

Where is the Elizabeth II statue located?

The sculpture is located in the north churchyard of Romsey Abbey in Romsey, Hampshire.

What does the Romsey Elizabeth II statue show?

The sculpture depicts Elizabeth II as a young monarch wearing her Coronation Regalia. Its design also incorporates themes connected to her relationship with Test Valley and the local community.

Why is Elizabeth II connected to Romsey?

One of the most important connections is Broadlands, where Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon in 1947. The Queen also had connections with the Mountbatten family and the wider Test Valley.

Who commissioned the Elizabeth II sculpture?

Test Valley Borough Council commissioned the sculpture as part of a two-statue project commemorating Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.

Is there another Elizabeth II statue in Test Valley?

Yes. A companion sculpture was unveiled in Andover in 2024. It depicts Elizabeth II at a later stage of her reign, while the Romsey sculpture represents her as a young Queen.

Is there an exhibition connected to the Romsey statue?

Yes. Event information says an accompanying exhibition at Romsey Abbey is scheduled from September 4 to September 20, 2026, allowing visitors to explore more about the sculpture and its creation.

Sources

The article was researched using primary and authoritative local sources, particularly Test Valley Borough Council, alongside Romsey Abbey, the Arts Society Romsey, and independent reporting from ITV News Meridian. The council's August 24, 2026 announcement and July 9, 2026 project update were the principal sources for the sculpture's commissioning, design, location, community involvement and unveiling arrangements.