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Row over statue of 'dead' Prince Harry
Last updated at 11:37am on 05.10.07A row has broken out over a statue which depicts a 'dead' Prince Harry clutching a cameo locket of his late mother, Princess Diana.
The statue is intended as a memorial to honour those who are willing but unable to serve in Iraq, artist Daniel Edwards said.
But the memorial, which features the Prince laid out before the Union Jack with pennies placed over his eyes and his head rested on the bible, has been slammed by sources at Clarence House as 'revolting'.
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The memorial statue of a dead Prince Harry is intended as a tribute to the 'brave at heart' says the artist
Due to go on show at the Trafalgar Hotel in central London next Thursday as part of the Bridge Art Fair, the 'memorial' is designed to commemorate Prince Harry's 'unfulfilled patriotic aspiration'.
One critic writing on the sculptor's website said: "I don't see this as art. I think that it is very tasteless in nature and an exploitation of Prince Harry."
But the artist behind the work has hit back at his critics.
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Harry is clutching a locket depicting Diana and his gun remains holstered and unused
Bad taste or patriotic art? Have your say below
Mr Edwards, who is based in New York, denied the piece is in bad taste.
He said: "Prince Harry's spirit must have died the day they told him he couldn't serve."
"That's what this memorial is about."
"The world had to face and visualize this image for six months."
"Militia leaders were putting a bounty on him. It was a visual that everyone had in their head and the sculpture is a realization of that visual."
"I wouldn't call it any worse taste than the original content of that story."
Edwards said he was inspired to create the sculpture because of increasing apathy toward the war in Iraq.
"Maybe this monument can inspire more people to speak up, and pay closer attention to the war," he said.
The memorial features Prince Harry, with his unfired gun still holstered and a bloodied flag of Wales, laid out in front of the Union Jack while a desert vulture perches on his boot.
A bronze casting of his "severed ears" will also be on display at the hotel and will go on sale on the popular auction website eBay at a later date.
In May this year, the head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said the Prince would not be sent to Iraq because of "unacceptable risks" and a "number of specific threats" against him directly.
David Kesting, a spokesman for the art fair, said: "This war memorial is dedicated to the brave at heart."
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Prince Harry in army fatigues. The Prince was keen to go to Iraq but was not allowed to serve
"But the brave men and women Prince Harry inspired to enlist for combat following his announcement to serve six months in Iraq are not forgotten."
He said visitors may place cards and flowers for the prince at the memorial or send their condolences through the website at www.PrinceHarryMemorial.com.
Reader views (15)
Totally tasteless and completely revolting. One wonders how the artist would feel if such a statue was unveiled of his children in such a manner. As a father I can only imagine how disturbed Prince Charles must have felt when he saw this piece of rubbish.
- Trevor Wilson, Manchester, England
I think this is disgusting. How would Bush feel if this was Jenna or Barbara (his twin daughters) lying there dead? The British are one of our "few" allies after all.
- Angela Bowden, Marietta, GA USA
Brilliant!
"Prince Harry's spirit must have died the day they told him he couldn't serve"... yeah, I think he's been going out to endless nightclubs etc ever since to try and cope with the situation...
- Kbuck, Newcastle, UK
I can totally see where the artist is coming from as why he designed and made this statue. It's a little eerie as Prince Harry is not dead; however, I like it. I like what the artist says it stands for. I'd love to hear what Prince Harry thinks about it.
- Teri Jo, USA
I think it's brilliant. Art is supposed to envoke emotion and create dialogue. This piece does that very well.
- Regan, Pittsburgh
Prince Harry represents a strong and proud nation. There was reason to keep him home and I understand the artist's mindset, but, politics aside, I would find no honor in this "art" if I were him or a citizen of England.
- Torrey, Maine, USA
This is in poor, poor taste. The truly sad thing is that our government probably gave him a federal grant to create this thing, which he is trying to pass for "art".
- Ken, Ramer, USA
Daniel Edwards is no artist. He is a distasteful wanna be.
- Helen, London
It is funny though.
But why can't this artist leech a little off the Prince. After all they leech off us.
- Chung Yung, London
It is revolting. This "corpse" is dressed in entirely the wrong uniform, more that of a WW2 American soldier than that of a modern British Army uniform.
- Jk, London, UK
A statue depicting any living individual as dead is simply distasteful. The self-justification by the artist is pathetic, he just wants publicity and I suppose his ploy has worked.
- Simon, London
This idiot is just cashing in, in a very cynical manner.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
I admire Prince Harry for his attempted service to his country. As a former US Army Officer I can appreciate his desire to be with his unit when they were deployed; after all they trained together, sweated together and sacrificed together and were to be a team. I fail to appreciate the military command denying him the opportunity he sought. Also, how should the other grunts take this--their possible loss of life is of no consequence compared to a select person. It is appropriate for royalty to take the risks that the general population takes. How can you lead if you cannot understand what the led undergo.
- Mike Yeksavich, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
'The statue is intended to be seen as a memorial to honour those who are willing but unable to serve in Iraq, artist Daniel Edwards said.'
Poppycock. It is a monument to the artist's vanity, desire for acclaim, and wish to make money.
- Willstead Ash, London, UK
How weird for Prince Harry.
- Laura, USA
