Pictured: Regal silk cover is now in place over the Queen’s statue on York Minster

The statue of Queen Elizabeth II is now covered in a regal purple silk cover. Photograph: Richard McDougall

Preparations are almost complete at York Minster as we await the arrival of the King.

And the statue he will unveil of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is now covered with a purple silk cloth.

It will be this that King Charles will pull aside to finally reveal the statue, designed and carved by Minster stonemason Richard Bossons, to the world.

Previously it was hidden by a rather rougher material:

The statue of the Queen is in place on York Minster, just waiting to be unveiled. Photograph: YorkMix