Queen Elizabeth I will return to walk the streets of London Friday afternoon (April 12).

Not in person as such, but in a reconstruction of a royal procession under the title Construction of an Icon: A Triumphal Procession.

The theatrical reconstruction will feature multi-award-winning actor Christopher Green as Elizabeth I, who will lead a "grand procession" from the Queen's House in Greenwich to the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

The event coincides with the presence of the famous late 16th century painting of Elizabeth I, known as the 'Armada Portrait' (see image detail) at the Queen's House in Greenwich.

The painting is open for audiences to see in Greenwich at present, and depicts Elizabeth I touching a globe in reference to Britain's increasingly global outlook at the close of the 1500s.

It also depicts the failed invasion of the Spanish Armada on one side and an altogether more impressive-looking English fleet on the other.

Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) said: "On Friday 12 April, multi-award-winning actor Christopher Green takes on the role of Elizabeth I in a grand procession from the Queen's House to the National Portrait Gallery.

"The day starts at the Queen's House, in the heart of Greenwich Park. Here, Christopher Green will be transforming into the icon of Elizabeth I."

RMG provided a list of where and when attendees can watch the procession on Friday:

  • 10.30–11.15 The Queen’s House, Royal Museums Greenwich
  • 11.15–11.30 The Great Court, Water Gates, The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Later in the day, spectators can "welcome the Queen with song and celebration" at the following locations, RMG said:

  • 15.00–15.30 The North Terrace in Trafalgar Square (outside the National Gallery)
  • 15.30–17.30 The National Portrait Gallery

A spokesperson for RMG said: "Construction of an Icon is a performance, a creative design and a communities’ project, which offers new ways to share histories of Elizabeth I, and disseminate the iconic Armada Portrait with new audiences.

"It has been commissioned by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund UK as part of the Armada Portrait Project."

In 2016, the Armada Portrait was acquired for the UK nation following a joint appeal by RMG and others with the Art Fund.

For more information about the Construction of an Icon procession, go to: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/construction-icon-triumphal-procession