Statue of Nell Gwynn

Among the many statues in London  only one depicts a royal mistress. This distinctive statue portrays Nell Gwynn, a Restoration actress and royal mistress to King Charles II.

Gwynn was born into humble circumstances. After restrictions on female actresses were lifted in the 1660s, she was able to pursue a career on stage. By 1665, Nell Gwynn had become one of the biggest stars in the city.

Her relationship with King Charles II is believed to have begun in 1668, and it lasted for 17 years, until the king's death. Amongst his wife and numerous other mistresses, King Charles II regarded Nell Gwynn as his favorite. Before the king's passing, he made a deathbed plea to his brother, the future King James II: "Let not poor Nelly starve.”

This statue commemorating Nell depicts her dressed in the fashion of the 17th-century court. Fittingly, it features a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at her feet, a breed named in honor of the king she loved.