Plate 83:  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as Colonel-in-Chief, the Grenadier Guards
(This plate added JUL 2004)

Here we see a cast-metal model of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England. The model, by Britains Ltd., appeared in the Hollow-Cast Metal Soldier catalogue of 1965. A copy of the 1965 catalogue is displayed in this photo, opened to page 34, where the model is described. The cover of the 1965 catalogue can be seen in the center of the photo in Plate 81. --more--

The 1965 catalogue describes this model as: "9400 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Colonel-in-Chief the Grenadier Guards in full Dress Uniform. This model is finely detailed with excellent finish, displayed against a coloured background of Buckingham Palace and Albert Memorial. Box measures 9.8 x 9.8 x 4.8 cms." The description in the catalogue appears to contain a minor error. The background contained in the display box is a blue line-and-halftone illustration of the facade of Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial, not the Albert Memorial as stated in the catalogue. The Queen Victoria Memorial, which is portrayed in the box, was the conception of the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock (1847-1922) and the architect Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930). This memorial was erected at the request of King Edward VII of England, son of Queen Victoria. The Albert Memorial, erroneously ascribed to the box's illustration by the catalogue, was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878), and is located at Kensington Gardens in London. The small slip of paper lying in front of the box in this photo is imprinted with the following advice: "No complaint can be dealt with unless this slip is returned. BRITAINS LTD. 186 King's Cross Rd., London, W.C.1" Go to top of page