New statues of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh installed at Norwich Cathedral

Statues of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been installed at Norwich Cathedral to mark the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty's coronation.

The Queen's coronation took place exactly 65 years to this day on June 2 1953.

The statues - which have been carved by York-based sculptor Charles Gurrey - are now on display in the cloisters and sit close to statues of King George V and Queen Mary and also of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The earlier statues were all created in the late 1930s by sculptor Gilbert Ledward and all of the figures are positioned above the stone troughs where monks once washed their hands before and after meals.

The new royal statues will be dedicated at a choral evensong service later this month.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, said: 'We are delighted that the statues of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are completed and have been installed in the month which marks the 65th Anniversary of the coronation.

'The Queen's reign has been a truly remarkable one and we look forward to celebrating the service that both she and Prince Philip have given to our nation in a special Evensong on June 17 at 3.30pm.

'Bishop Graham will be with us to dedicate the statues at the conclusion of the service at a ceremony in the cloisters and everyone is warmly invited.'

The project to create the two new statues cost £26,000 and was funded by contributions from individuals, The Friends of Norwich Cathedral and The Dean and Chapter.

Mr Gurrey has previously completed work at other notable cathedrals in the UK, including a portable font in York Minster and a programme of architectural sculptures over the west doors at Guildford.

Mr Ledward, who completed the earlier royal statues, was a war artist and a Royal Academician and he was commissioned to create a number of war memorials in London and other places.

• The statues will be dedicated at a choral evensong service at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday, June 17 at 3.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

The service will be followed by tea and cake in the cloisters.

• Scaffolding currently outside the west end of the cathedral is to enable repairs to the roofs of the turrets at the west end of the nave to take place. The work is due to be completed by September and is being funded by the Chapter with a grant from the Friends of Norwich Cathedral.