Shock at Buckingham Palace as man sets fire to Queen Victoria Memorial
An investigation is underway after a man deliberately set fire to the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace late Tuesday night.
Arsonist tackled by police within seconds
At around 10:10pm on 20 December 2022, officers at the Palace spotted the blaze and quickly alerted the fire service. Witnesses saw police rush to the scene within seconds and wrestle the suspect to the ground as others gave chase.
In footage from the arrest, officers order the man to “get on the floor, get down, stay down” before taking him into custody.
Police confirm arrest and swift response
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said:
“Shortly after 22:08hrs on Tuesday, 20 December, a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage after a small fire was seen near the Buckingham Palace gates. The man has been taken into custody. The fire has been extinguished.”
Thankfully, no injuries were reported and emergency crews quickly put out the flames.
The stunning monument under attack
The towering Queen Victoria Memorial stands 25 metres high, crafted from 2,300 tonnes of pristine white Carrara marble. Created between 1906 and 1924 by Sir Thomas Brock, it features statues representing courage, constancy, victory, truth, and motherhood.
The entire design, including the Memorial Gardens, was dreamed up by Sir Aston Webb and unveiled by King George V in 1911. The gates, piers, balustrades, and retaining walls are all protected landmarks — now scarred by this shocking act of vandalism.
