Marble Arch may have waved goodbye to one of its more divisive installations, the £6 million mound, but now it’s welcoming a new – albeit (intentionally) temporary – figurehead.
As London gears up for the Coronation of King Charles III, the city has already welcomed a few in-your-face decorations to remind us that it is, indeed, happening. Has Marble Arch gone against the grain with their crowning installation?
Nahhhhhh. When in doubt, just order in a gigantic crown. Goodbye, Marble Arch Mound. Enter, Marble Arch Crown.
Marble Arch’s 300kg regal headwear decoration went on display today, and will stand tall in the centre of London until May 11, adding to the crowns we’ve already seen dotted around Oxford Street’s bus stops.
The Marble Arch crown incorporates 36 different colours of glass stones, and since it is 2023, there is also a QR code allowing visitors to learn about Marble Arch’s royal history. The St. Edwards Crown is even decorated with lights for a special display each evening. Safe to say the old mound missed a trick not incorporating those.
One of London’s most recognisable monuments, Marble Arch, which moved from Buckingham Palace to its current location in 1850, has been at the forefront of Coronations and royal processions for almost 200 years. Marble Arch’s crown was installed by Marble Arch London BID, which represents a string of businesses in the area.
Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, Marble Arch London BID, comments: “Marble Arch has a long and celebrated history of Royal Coronations from the monument’s early creation to Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony in 1953.
“We could think of no better way to pay tribute to King Charles III’s Coronation than to install this fantastic and stunningly realistic attraction for all to enjoy as they venture to this part of London in the days before and after this very special Royal occasion.”
This Saturday (May 6) marks the first royal coronation in Britain since 1953, and follows the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last September. You can see the crown for yourself, located just by Speakers’ Corner, until May 11.