QUEEN Elizabeth II deserves a decent memorial and not some kind of “woke” idea, royal commentators have said.
The late Queen’s former police officer Dick Griffin and royal photographer Arthur Edwards appeared on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive programme to discuss current affairs.
A sculpture to the monarch will be open to the public in St James’s Park, London, in 2026 – which would have been her centenary year.
An announcement about the monument is set to take place this weekend on the two-year anniversary of her death, reports say.
Speaking on the topic of what any potential memorial for the late Queen should look like, Mr Edwards told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show: “I think it should be a garden with a statue as well – everything.
“I don’t know where, maybe opposite St James’ Park, where she looked out every morning from the Palace and saw it there, maybe have it there, a beautiful garden and a great statue of her.”
Mr Griffin said: “I just thought we’d come up with a proper sensible idea, not a ‘woke’ idea.
“We need something, as Arthur says, a garden, a statue.”
Mr Edwards added: “I travel on the Elizabeth Line a lot and think, ‘it’s a great name’.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial is set to be erected near the statue of Queen Victoria, which is located outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall.
Her former private secretary, Lord Robin Janvrin, was made chair of a special committee which has worked with the Government and Royal Household to create this monument.
He passed away at the age of 82 following an important career within the Royal Family.
The Royal Exclusive programme comes after royal photographer Jim Bennett claimed the Queen called him a “horrible little man” after he took a snap of an “unstable” Princess Diana riding a horse.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, he recalled being present when Diana was having a riding lesson.
Jim told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “Many years ago, back in the 80s, the Queen was trying to teach Diana how to ride along with some grooms.
“They were at Sandringham, and the Queen had taken her out, and for some unknown reason, she decided to take her on the main road across towards Anmer Hall, which is where William and Kate now live.
“But she was coming down that road, and they were riding along together.
“They saw us, and I expected them to sort of veer off, but obviously, Diana was very unstable on the horse.
“I mean, she was gripping like, ‘please, you know, let me get on with it. And let me get off.’”
Jim said as the Queen got close to him, he looked for somewhere to move back to, so he wouldn’t be in her way.
He added: “But they kept on coming, and we did the pictures.
“And literally, as they got level with us, she looked down at me, and she said, ‘You are one horrible little man.’”
By SARAH GREALISH
THE Queen spent her final days at Balmoral having fun with family, reading the Racing Post and watching TV with staff.
Her Majesty passed away on September 8, 2022 in the royal retreat where she spent many happy summers with her beloved Philip.
She spent her final hours in the bosom of her family, in the place she was the most at home.
In the wake of her death it was revealed how she’d spent her final “fun” days.
The Queen spent three months every summer at the Scottish castle and would “kick off her shoes” and relax.
This 50,000-acre estate beside the River Dee in the Scottish Highlands is where she could be a mum, and a wife – a world away from life as the most famous woman on the planet.
She arrived at Balmoral for the last time on July 23, 2022 – her second summer without Prince Philip.
She flew by private helicopter and was expected to stay until October to take some time away from royal duties.
Her Majesty first stayed in the seven-bedroom Craigowan Lodge on Royal Deeside, before moving a mile down the road to live in Balmoral Castle on August 9.
Here she stayed with her beloved staff, including Page of the Backstairs Paul Whybrew – who is 6ft 6in and nicknamed Tall Paul – and her Serjeant-at-Arms Barry Mitford.
The pair would bring the life-long horse fan the Racing Post every morning before sitting down to watch some TV.
And her righthand woman and best friend, Angela Kelly, who worked as the Queen’s personal assistant and dresser was with her until the very end.
Right up until her death the Queen welcomed visitors who kept her company.
The last weekend before she died Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, stayed with her at the castle.
He said she was in “really good spirits” and told how he was moved by how she spoke about her beloved Prince Philip.
They had dinner together on the Saturday and lunch on Sunday – and even eerily brushed on the subject of afterlife.
And he said the Queen seemed to be delighted to be spending time at her beloved highland home.
He said: “In conversation with her, she took me over to the window and she was looking over her gardens with great pride and affection.
“And I think that’s where she would have wanted to spend her last days and I would think the family are comforted by that.”
She then went on to “reflect on life” as they discussed her faith and the afterlife.
Two days later, on September 6, the Queen hosted an audience with new Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Photos showed the pair in the castle for the traditional “kissing of the hands” ceremony.
Truss was the Queen’s 15th Prime Minister during her more than 70 years as Monarch.
Photos showed her smiling in the green drawing room as she chatted with Truss for 30 minutes.
Two days after, on September 8, the Queen died “peacefully” at Balmoral.
The King and Princess Anne both managed to make it to her bedside before she died.
Senior royals faced a grim race against time to say goodbye after doctors shared the tragic news Her Majesty had just hours to live.
Sadly just two of the Queen’s four children were able to make it to her bedside in Balmoral in time.
Princess Anne and King Charles were in Scotland on royal business already when the heartbreaking news was announced.
