Banksy Confirms New Flag-Bearing Statue Installed in Central London

Overview

• The artist verified authorship on Instagram with a video showing the sculpture delivered by flatbed truck and mounted overnight in Waterloo Place.
• The work depicts a suited figure with a flag covering his face as he steps off a plinth, echoing nearby monuments to Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War.
• Westminster Council said it was excited by the addition, put up protective barriers around the piece, and kept it open for the public to view.
• Online reactions, including comments on Banksy’s post and analysis by a BBC podcast creator, frame the statue as a critique of blind patriotism and power.
• The installation follows Banksy’s pattern of surprise public works later authenticated on Instagram, a history that often sees pieces draw crowds and face quick removal or theft.