The ‘Queen’s Virtues’ were first revealed to the public as part of the Victoria Memorial, commissioned shortly after the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901. Eminent sculptor Sir Thomas Brock was briefed to design its central monument, which was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911.

Brock’s design featured a number of allegorical characters; the gold-gilded winged angel of Victory stands at the very top, with the figures of Courage and Constancy at her feet, themselves standing above representations of Truth, Justice and Charity and a magnificent, seated sculpture of Queen Victoria herself.