The controversial piece by Irish artist Anto Brennan depicts the late queen in a headscarf with two Corgis standing next to a sculpture of Prince Philip, which he also created.
It was unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens, prompting a flood of mocking remarks on social media.
One person said the late monarch looked like Robin Williams’s character in the 1993 comedy "Mrs Doubtfire".
Another said: "Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested."
“It is awful...It looks nothing like the Queen or the Prince.. Terrible..Dreadful..Melt it down and start again” https://t.co/uf4KXnbo7g pic.twitter.com/rMvU4evdqS
— Standard News (@standardnews) September 11, 2024
Comments on a Facebook post have been have been turned off after the unveiling on Saturday.
The proposal for the sculpture of the late queen and her corgis came in January 2023, adding to the likeness of Prince Philip which was already there.
The deputy mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Paul Dunlop, attended the unveiling and said: "It’s down to personal taste. Everyone has their own opinion but it is what the sculpture represents that is important."
But when the sculpture was unveiled, Mayor Neil Kelly described it as a "beautiful statue".
The council posted: "The sculpture captures Her Majesty in a dignified pose, reflecting her grace, steadfastness and lifelong dedication to public service.
"One of the first of its kind in the UK, the sculpture was created to commemorate Her Late Majesty who passed away two years earlier, on September 8 2022.
"To complete the scene, the royal couple is joined by two of the more than 30 dogs that Her Majesty owned during her lifetime."
Belfast man Brennan is no stranger to high-profile pieces. His best-known work is a chess set featuring key players in Northern Irish politics, including the Reverend Ian Paisley, Gerry Adams, Tony Blair, David Trimble, Mary McAleese and John Hume. All of the pawns were IRA or RUC figures.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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