Alumni at one of Oxford’s most elite colleges were 'bemused' to find that the bust of the late Queen had been removed from the Hall – and there were no concrete plans to commission a likeness of King Charles.

The Oxford Mail understands that senior officials at Christ Church were quizzed at an event held last weekend in memory of late law tutor Edward Burn about the empty spot where the former monarch’s bust previously stood.

The sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II – the college’s Official Visitor or ceremonial head - had been removed to Christ Church’s Picture Gallery, but there were concerns about an apparent lack of plans to commission a similar artwork of the new king.

It came after, last week, it was revealed the Charity Commission had issued a warning to the trustees of the college – set up as an education charity – about spending £6.6m in legal and PR fees in its dispute with former Dean Prof Martyn Percy. The head of the college left earlier this year with a reported seven-figure pay-off.

One of the former Christ Church students who was at the event this weekend said people were ‘bemused’ about the lack of firm plans to commission a bust of the king.

“In particular, bearing in mind it was on Friday of last week that the national press had the story about £6.[6]m being wasted [on legal and PR fees in relation to the dispute with the former Dean],” they told the Oxford Mail.

They added: “There is a huge amount of intellect in the governing body but precious little common sense.”

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Christ Church said the college was ‘in discussions regarding the commissioning of a bust of King Charles in due course’.

The college had displayed busts of English monarchs since the time of George I. The tradition of commissioning the head-and-shoulder sculptures lapsed with the accession of William IV in the 19th century.

A sculpture of his niece, Queen Victoria, was made and is now in the college’s Law Library. No further busts were commissioned until 1955, when a likeness of Queen Elizabeth was created.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward