Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work
A statue by the anonymous artist Banksy has been confirmed in central London, depicting a man in a suit stepping off a plinth while holding a flag that covers his face. The artwork appeared during King Charles III's state visit to the United States and was later verified by a video on Banksy's Instagram. Authorities in Westminster have stated they currently have no plans to remove the sculpture and welcome its presence in the city's public art landscape.
- ▪The statue was installed overnight on Wednesday in Waterloo Place, London, and bears Banksy's signature on its base.
- ▪Banksy confirmed the work through a video posted to his official Instagram account, set to Edward Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance March No.1'.
- ▪Westminster City Council stated they have no plans to remove the statue and have taken initial steps to protect it.
- ▪The artwork appeared during King Charles III's state visit to the U.S., where he addressed Congress and emphasized NATO cooperation.
- ▪Last September, a Banksy mural at the Royal Courts Service in London was removed shortly after its appearance.
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Culture Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work May 2, 20261:25 PM ET Anastasia Tsioulcas A statue of a man holding a flag covering his face, and signed 'Banksy', which has appeared in Waterloo Place in London, Thursday, April 30, 2026. Kin Cheung/AP hide caption toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP A statue that was erected mysteriously in central London early Wednesday has been confirmed as the work of the mischievous, often politically oriented artist Banksy. The statue depicts a man in a suit hoisting a large flag.The flag's cloth covers the man's face, however, and his proud march appears to be courting disaster, as he steps off the plinth with no ground beneath him.
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