Ronald Reagan Statue to be Unveiled in London's Grosvenor Square

A statue of Ronald Reagan is to be unveiled in London's Grosvenor Square, as part of a year of celebrations to mark the 100th birthday of the former US president.

From The Telegraph

By Harriet Alexander

The 10 foot bronze will be positioned on a pedestal close to the American Embassy, and stand alongside existing statues of two other 20th Century US leaders, Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D Roosevelt. The Embassy is moving to a new location next year, but the statues will remain in Mayfair.

With the unveiling scheduled for July 4, US Independence Day, the Ronald Reagan Foundation has invited Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron to attend the ceremony.

Condoleezza Rice, the former US secretary of state who worked for the Pentagon during Mr Reagan's presidency, will represent Nancy Reagan, 89, who will be following proceedings from her Californian home.

"President Reagan always referred to the United States' special relationship with Great Britain, especially his personal friendship with Baroness Thatcher," said Rob Bauer, director of external affairs for the Ronald Reagan Foundation.
 

"The Reagan Foundation commissioned the statue to honour that partnership and to celebrate an enduring alliance."

Mr Reagan, who was US president between 1981 and 1989, died in 2004 at the age of 93.

The statue is to be created by Chas Fagan, the American sculptor who created a likeness of Mr Reagan for the Capitol Rotunda in the US Congress.

The Foundation, which is funding the work, hopes that the statue will have as much impact as the 2009 US version.

Mrs Reagan cried as the image was revealed. She said: "This statue is a wonderful likeness of Ronnie. He would be so proud."