Prince Edward, Duke of Kent statue

This bronze statue depicts Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the man who became the father of Queen Victoria. It was unveiled in January 1824, just four years after his death, and stands over seven feet tall on a granite pedestal. The figure portrays the Duke dressed in his Field Marshal uniform, complete with the regalia of the Order of the Garter. The memorial was not funded by the state but by the various charities the Duke supported during his life. Many of the contributors were fellow Freemasons who admired his involvement in philanthropic work. Because of this backing, it remains one of the earliest public statues in London to survive in its original setting, standing at the southern edge of Park Crescent as a fixed point in the grand urban design created by John Nash.