The Queen is coming to Gravesend, in statue form.

A generous benefactor is funding the £200,000 bronze tribute to Her Majesty - which is being built ahead of her 90th birthday this summer.

The sculpture is believed to be the first showing her seated, in full Order of the Garter robes. She will be larger than life and mounted on a stone plinth.

Council leader John Cubitt said: "It will be a fitting tribute to our longest reigning monarch on a notable personal milestone.

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"I'm certain that the people of our borough will welcome this artwork which will become part of our future heritage.

"The borough's links to the monarchy are long standing over centuries and it is especially fitting that it comes in a year when our market, one of the oldest royal chartered markets in England, is being redeveloped at the same time the statue of the last reigning Queen, Victoria, is being restored."

Gravesham Council has commissioned world-renowned sculptor Douglas Jennings MRBS - who created the Pujji statue on lower St Andrew's Gardens - to make the royal masterpiece.

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It will hopefully be displayed on upper St Andrew's Gardens, appropriately facing Queen Street.

Mr Jennings said: "I was extremely honoured and delighted to be chosen to create this unique statue of Her Majesty in her ninetieth year, to add to the Pujji memorial which has not only won awards but also won the hearts of the local people."

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