King Charles III unveils first posthumous statue of Queen Elizabeth II
King Charles III has unveiled the first statue of his late mother Queen Elizabeth II since her death in September.
The new sculpture in the English city of York was revealed on Wednesday outside York Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in Britain, and pays tribute to the late monarch's life of service and dedication.
"When this statue was first planned five years ago, during a reign of unprecedented duration and achievement, it was intended as a celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee," the King said in a speech at a rainy unveiling ceremony while holding a black umbrella.
"Now, as we have witnessed, with great sadness, the passing of that reign, it is unveiled in her memory, as a tribute to a life of extraordinary service and devotion," he continued.
"The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life. Now, her image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square for centuries to come," he added, before pulling down the purple cloth covering the towering statue, which overlooks York's new public square from above one of the cathedral's entrances.
Ahead of the unveiling, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell described the "unique occasion" as an "immensely poignant moment" honoring "the long life and service of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth to her people, her nation and the Commonwealth."
The Queen died aged 96 on September 8, just months after celebrating an unprecedented seven decades on the throne.
Her commemorative statue, which was designed and carved by York Minster stonemason Richard Bossons, stands at just over six and a half feet tall and weighs around 4,000 pounds.
The French limestone sculpture shows the late Queen in Garter robes, crowned with the George IV State Diadem, and holding the orb and scepter -- symbols of her role as head of church and state.
"She will stand proud and resolute in her niche, welcoming worshippers and visitors alike," said Bossons in a statement.
A blemished arrival
Earlier Wednesday, a 23-year-old man was arrested "on a suspicion of a public order offence" after eggs were thrown at the King and Queen Consort during their visit to York, according to North Yorkshire police.
None of the eggs hit the royals, who carried on with their engagement, meeting members of the local community.
The man has been interviewed and released on police bail, the force said in an update on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Powerful quake rocks Turkiye and Syria, kills more than 2,600
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkiye and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing more than 2,600 people and injuring thousands more as it toppled thousands of buildings and trapped residents under mounds of rubble.

'Buildings are broken': Calgary man in Turkiye describes disaster scene post-earthquake
Calgarians at home and abroad are reeling in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck a war-torn region near the border of Turkiye and Syria.
New details emerge ahead of Trudeau-premiers' health-care meeting
As preparations are underway for the anticipated health-care 'working meeting' between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers on Tuesday, new details are emerging about how provinces anticipate the talks will unfold.
Strongest earthquake to hit Buffalo in decades causes 'surreal' rumbles in southern Ontario
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake that struck near Buffalo, N.Y. Monday morning was felt in southern Ontario, officials say.
NEW | Pilots safe after B.C. air tanker crashes in Australia
Two pilots walked away safe after a large air tanker owned by a Vancouver Island company crashed while battling wildfires in western Australia on Monday.
Google notifying Canadian employees impacted by global layoff of 12,000 workers
Google says Canadian employees affected by recently announced job cuts are being told today whether they have been laid off.
Full snow moon considered 'micromoon' because of distance from Earth
February's full snow moon, which first appeared this weekend, will light up the sky over the next two nights, with the spectacle already reaching full illumination on Sunday morning. But this year's full moon was smaller than those of recent years.
Former Liberal MP Raj Grewal seeks dismissal of charges due to lack of evidence
A former Liberal MP is seeking the dismissal of two criminal charges connected to his time in office. Raj Grewal's lawyer argues that prosecutors have not presented enough evidence to find him guilty of the two breach of trust charges, and the Crown has failed to establish essential elements required for such a finding.
Big tech job cuts keep coming; Dell latest to trim headcount
The tech industry started the year with a wave of job cuts, around 50,000 in January alone, and there doesn't appear to be any let up this month. Here's a look at some of the companies that have announced layoffs so far.