How Queen Elizabeth II's death unfolded - one year later

       Sadiq Khan has been criticised for effectively blocking a statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Trafalgar Square until 2030 at the earliest - with "woke art" going there instead.

       The London Mayor has signed off on the empty Fourth Plinth, where campaigners hope to erect the statue of the beloved late monarch, for "woke" art until the end of the decade.

       The first piece to go up for six months will be a fixture of 850 faces of trans people who were mostly sex workers.

       It is understood that if Tory mayoral rival Susan Hall defeats Mr Khan on May 2, she will reverse his decision and find an alternative site for the items - while organising for a new statue of the late Queen to be commissioned and erected on the empty plinth.

       Ms Hall was outraged by Mr Khan's decision, which goes alongside his plans to give "woke" Left-wing names to London Overground lines.

       Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

       READ MORE: 'Virtue signalling' Sadiq Khan blasted for splurging ￡6.3m on 'vanity project'

       An installation of trans people's faces will go on the Fourth plinth (Image: Getty)

       Last week, Mr Khan approved ￡1million of Londoners' money to fund Fourth Plinth installations in 2026 and 2028. It means a new statue of the late Queen would not be able to go up before 2030.

       The Labour London Mayor has never ruled out a statue of the late monarch but has not supported the project in regards to Trafalgar Square.

       A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor wants to ensure we have a fitting memorial to our longest serving monarch. He supports the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, which is being supported by the Royal Household and chaired by the former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II. The Mayor stands ready to support the recommendations of the committee, whatever they are.”

       The mayoral decision also confirms that Improntas, the winning entry from the 2024 commission, will be installed on the plinth this August.

       A Tory source said: "Susan has committed to working with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee and the Royal Family to offer a permanent memorial to the late Queen on Fourth Plinth.

       "The Improntas sculpture and any future commissions would have to be moved to accommodate that."

       Don't miss...

       New poll confirms that Reform UK is Sunak's biggest general election nightmare [REVEAL]

       As hard as it is to believe Rishi Sunak will survive and could win the election [INSIGHT]

       The insult to King Charles in an image that has caused a huge diplomatic row [REACT]

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Campaigners want a statue of the late Queen on the plinth (Image: Getty)

       The current artwork on the fourth plinth (Image: Getty)

       As well as depicting the faces of trans sex workers, the totem will be “infused with their hair and skin cells” and left to “deteriorate” in London’s weather, according to the official description.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Fate of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's website rests with little known royal official

       186 Comments

       King Charles will be 'absolutely focused' on day job despite cancer scare

       4 Comments

       The stunning new trains that are bringing London Underground into the 21st century

       6 Comments

       King Charles urged to 'punish' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and strip them of titles

       60 Comments

       Boris Johnson given fresh boost as momentum grows for dramatic political comeback

       801 Comments

       Prince Harry hybrid royal role rubbished as insiders say 'no way back' for Duke

       135 Comments

       Prince William set to hire peacekeeper as his new right-hand man

       5 Comments

       If King Charles can work around cancer, so can we says Eliot Wilson

       19 Comments

       The abandoned UK airport that may reopen and start running cheap easyJet flights

       1 Comments

       King Charles arrives back in London with Queen Camilla to continue his cancer treatment

       241 Comments

       ‘Boris Johnson idolised Thatcher and wanted to be Churchill - but he turned into Mr Bean'

       125 Comments

       The beautiful UK seaside village going to war with second home owner's 'glass box' build

       5 Comments

       Prince Harry and Prince Andrew to never step in for King Charles due to subtle rule change

       33 Comments

       Prince Harry's royal return claims torn apart as 'terms are quite clear'

       20 Comments

       Plans for statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Trafalgar Square unveiled

       84 Comments

       'Virtue signalling' Sadiq Khan blasted for splurging ￡6.3m on Overground 'vanity project'

       503 Comments

       Sadiq Khan humiliated as TfL has no money left to fix broken ULEZ cameras

       153 Comments

       Fury as Sadiq Khan proudly reveals new train line names - 'this cost ￡6.3m'

       19 Comments

       Train ticket prices surge by more than ￡100 for single journey in 'eye-watering' rise

       10 Comments

       Sadiq Khan's latest ridiculous election stunt is an insult to Londoners, blasts Susan Hall

       30 Comments

       Fate of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's website rests with little known royal official

       186 Comments

       King Charles will be 'absolutely focused' on day job despite cancer scare

       4 Comments

       The stunning new trains that are bringing London Underground into the 21st century

       6 Comments

       King Charles urged to 'punish' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and strip them of titles

       60 Comments

       Boris Johnson given fresh boost as momentum grows for dramatic political comeback

       801 Comments

       Prince Harry hybrid royal role rubbished as insiders say 'no way back' for Duke

       135 Comments

       Prince William set to hire peacekeeper as his new right-hand man

       5 Comments

       If King Charles can work around cancer, so can we says Eliot Wilson

       19 Comments

       The abandoned UK airport that may reopen and start running cheap easyJet flights

       1 Comments

       King Charles arrives back in London with Queen Camilla to continue his cancer treatment

       241 Comments

       ‘Boris Johnson idolised Thatcher and wanted to be Churchill - but he turned into Mr Bean'

       125 Comments

       The beautiful UK seaside village going to war with second home owner's 'glass box' build

       5 Comments

       Prince Harry and Prince Andrew to never step in for King Charles due to subtle rule change

       33 Comments

       Prince Harry's royal return claims torn apart as 'terms are quite clear'

       20 Comments

       Plans for statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Trafalgar Square unveiled

       84 Comments

       'Virtue signalling' Sadiq Khan blasted for splurging ￡6.3m on Overground 'vanity project'

       503 Comments

       Sadiq Khan humiliated as TfL has no money left to fix broken ULEZ cameras

       153 Comments

       Fury as Sadiq Khan proudly reveals new train line names - 'this cost ￡6.3m'

       19 Comments

       Train ticket prices surge by more than ￡100 for single journey in 'eye-watering' rise

       10 Comments

       Sadiq Khan's latest ridiculous election stunt is an insult to Londoners, blasts Susan Hall

       30 Comments

       Fate of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's website rests with little known royal official

       186 Comments

       King Charles will be 'absolutely focused' on day job despite cancer scare

       4 Comments

       The stunning new trains that are bringing London Underground into the 21st century

       6 Comments

       King Charles urged to 'punish' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and strip them of titles

       60 Comments

       Boris Johnson given fresh boost as momentum grows for dramatic political comeback

       801 Comments

       Prince Harry hybrid royal role rubbished as insiders say 'no way back' for Duke

       135 Comments

       Prince William set to hire peacekeeper as his new right-hand man

       5 Comments

       Adverts have been sent out inviting trans people to participate and cast their faces, with most being "marginalised" sex workers.

       The artwork is costing ￡140,000 to produce, plus a ￡30,000 artist’s fee, which is paid for by London taxpayers. For the 2026 and 2028 installations, yet to be announced, it is understood this will be increased to ￡200,000 of production costs.

       Less than a quarter (23 percent) of Londoners approved of the totem, while 42 percent said they disliked it, according to YouGov polling from when it was first shortlisted in 2021.

       When the work was first commissioned, Mr Khan said the work would “encourage discussion about the fight for freedom and equality”.

       Related articles Labour MP issued grave warning as pro-Gaza party looks to oust her from seat Rishi Sunak faces double by-election misery as Labour overturns Tory majorities Richard Tice calls on Rishi Sunak to step down and let him take on Keir Starmer Keir Starmer in brutal clash with BBC's Naga Munchetty over by-election scandal Tory rebels set out demands to save party’s bacon after by-election drubbing