The statue of Queen Elizabeth II is unveiled at York Minster by King Charles III

The statue of Queen Elizabeth II is unveiled at York Minster by King Charles III

King Charles has unveiled the first commemorative statue of his late mother – shortly after being targeted with eggs during his first tour of Yorkshire as monarch.

Sheltering under an umbrella, the King pulled down the cloth covering the statue of Queen Elizabeth II in front of hundreds of people waiting outside the entrance of York Minster. There were cheers as the statue was revealed.

The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, had earlier entered the city in dramatic fashion, as eggs were thrown at them by a man in the crowd. They appeared unfazed as a 23-year-old man was arrested.

Weighing more than a ton and made from French limestone, the statue shows the Queen in the robes of the Order of the Garter.

It is the first to be created since Her Majesty’s death in September and overlooks York’s first new public square in 200 years, which will be named in the Queen’s honour.

Before unveiling the statue, the King said: “The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life.

“Her image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square for centuries to come.”

The King and his wife Camilla were shown an exhibition on how the statue was created. Credit: PA