equestrian statue of Elizabeth II
The equestrian statue of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Great Park is one of the most striking and emotionally resonant royal monuments in Britain, located on the Long Walk at the Copper Horse end — that is, near Snow Hill, at the southern end of the famous three-mile avenue that stretches from Windsor Castle. This bronze statue was unveiled in 2022 and depicts Queen Elizabeth II in military uniform astride a horse, paying tribute to her lifelong love of riding and her role as a monarch who reviewed her troops on horseback at Trooping the Colour for decades. It is a deeply personal and publicly beloved tribute, situated in parkland that the Queen herself knew intimately throughout her long life.
The statue was commissioned following the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and was sculpted by Amy Goodman, a British sculptor known for her sensitivity in capturing both human and equine form. It was unveiled by King Charles III on 23 November 2022, just months after the Queen's death in September of that year, making the occasion one of profound public emotion. The bronze shows Elizabeth II riding side-saddle in the uniform she wore for Trooping the Colour, evoking images familiar to generations of British people. It was installed in the grounds of the Royal Estate, close to the Garrison Grounds and within the landscape that the Queen walked, rode and drove through for most of her life.
In person, the statue commands real presence. The bronze has the warm, slightly dark tone typical of freshly patinated equestrian bronzes, and the detail in both the rider and the horse is exceptional — the folds of the uniform, the expression of quiet authority on the Queen's face, and the musculature of the horse all reward close inspection. The setting amplifies its dignity: it stands against the open sky of Windsor Great Park, with the vast grasslands stretching away in every direction. On clear days, visitors can see Windsor Castle to the north along the Long Walk, giving the site an extraordinary visual axis through history.
The surrounding area is the Royal Landscape of Windsor Great Park, a working royal estate and public parkland of around 5,000 acres. The postcode SL4 2HR places the statue near the Garrison Grounds and the broader southern parkland. Nearby features include the Long Walk itself, the Copper Horse statue of George III on Snow Hill (a longstanding landmark), Virginia Water to the south, the Valley Gardens, and Savill Garden. The area is rich in mature trees, open deer-grazed grassland, and has been a royal hunting and riding ground since the medieval period.
For visitors, the statue is accessible on foot or by bicycle from several points around Windsor Great Park, which is free to enter through its main gates. The nearest car parks include those at the Ranger's Gate off the A332, or at Savill Garden. The Long Walk from Windsor Castle is a popular route, roughly three miles each way, which allows visitors to approach the statue from the castle end with the same panoramic experience. The site is open year-round during daylight hours. The best times to visit are spring and early autumn when the light is low and golden, the park is less crowded than in peak summer, and the landscape is at its most atmospheric.
One quietly fascinating aspect of this statue is how it fits into a long tradition of equestrian royal monuments in the surrounding parkland — the nearby Copper Horse of George III has stood since 1831, and between the two statues visitors can perceive over two centuries of royal commemoration in the same landscape. The choice to depict Elizabeth II on horseback rather than in formal regalia or civic dress was deliberate and meaningful: it honoured her as a horsewoman first and foremost, reflecting a private passion that remained central to her identity throughout her reign. There is something quietly radical about it — this is not a queen on a throne but a woman in her element, riding through the park she loved.