Why the Statue of George Washington in London’s Trafalgar Square Was Taken Down

In 1921, the United Kingdom's foreign secretary, Earl Curzon of Kedleston, said of George Washington:

“... he was a great Englishman, one of the greatest Englishmen who ever lived; because though he fought us and vanquished us, he was fighting for ideals and principles which were as sacred to us as they were to the American people. … [His] merits were recognized by Englishmen even in his lifetime. …”

So military history buffs in London were probably perplexed to see the statue of George Washington, a gift presented by the United States to the United Kingdom more than a century ago, being taken down by yellow-vested workers.

At first glance, it would be easy to think it’s the latest shot fired toward a presidential administration that has rejected much of the world order that was in place when it took office. The truth, however, is that it’s just good housekeeping. Washington’s statue is undergoing some much-needed restoration work for the first time ever and will be back in place in just a few short weeks.

Related: Why George Washington's Statue in London Doesn't Touch British Soil

The London statue was removed from its spot outside the National Gallery on May 6, 2025, to undergo a full restoration process. The restoration is being done by the Virginia-based nonprofit Friends of the Washington Statue, whose mission is to raise funds to restore and repair the famous Washington Statue in Trafalgar Square, provide a new high-quality pedestal and educate people about the unique gift and the special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom.

“The long and short of it is that the George Washington Statue has gone to the restoration shop for much needed full restoration work, the first time in its 100-plus years,” John Gerber, president of Friends of the Washington Statue, told Military.com. “It will be returned to its Trafalgar location in early June in time for its rededication there on June 18, 2025.”

Representatives of the nonprofit added there’s not currently much more to say about the restoration, but will have full updates available as the rededication date draws closer.

The George Washington statue sits outside the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square. It’s one of six statues of U.S. presidents in the city. The first was a statue of Abraham Lincoln that was unveiled in 1920 to commemorate a century of peace between the United States and the United Kingdom. Lincoln’s statue stands opposite the Houses of Parliament and is a replica of one by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Chicago’s Lincoln Park.

Not to be outdone, the Commonwealth of Virginia presented Washington’s statue to Britain in 1921. It’s a replica of a 1794 original by Jean-Antoine Houdon and commissioned by Thomas Jefferson that now sits in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. The original statue was made using a plaster cast of Washington’s face.

In the 1850s, six copies were made and sent to the Virginia Military Institute; the North Carolina State Capitol; the South Carolina State House; Lafayette Park in St. Louis; Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; and New York City Hall. In 1910, more castings were made, and some of these found their way outside the United States. One was gifted to the people of France, one can still be found in Lima, Peru, and, of course, London’s Trafalgar Square.

Washington’s statue features the former president holding 13 fasces, a bundle of rods with an ax blade that symbolizes the holder’s power. These represent the original 13 colonies turned states. Legend has it that Washington once said he would never again step foot on British soil, so the statue allegedly sits on soil imported from Virginia to honor the commander in chief’s wishes.

To learn more about the history of the statue, its restoration, the current state of the statue or to stay updated on the rededication events, visit WashingtonStatue.org

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