Admiralty Arch stands between two landmarks in London, The Mall and Trafalgar Square. The Mall is a road that runs between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. The Arch not only stands beautifully in one of London's most famous areas, but it also welcomes you by opening up to the home of the English Monarch. Traffic does not pass through the arch and is only opened for state purposes. The Arch is used for ceremonial purposes such as royal weddings, funerals, and coronations (Britain). Some of these events include Queen Elizabeth's Funeral, the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremonies, and the marriage of Prince Harry and Princess Diana (The Royal). Aside from its immense beauty and architectural genius, there is a small protrusion that resembles a nose, coming out of the arch. This is to honor the Duke of Ellington because he was known for having a large nose and soldiers used to rub it for good luck as they passed through the arch.
The arch was commissioned by King Edward VII as a response to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. Sir Aston Webb was the man who designed the arch and he envisioned it to be used as an elegant ceremonial passage from the hectic Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace. In addition to the construction of the arch, Webb also did modifications to the landmarks surrounding the arch to better achieve his goal. For example, he widened The Mall to provide better travel, commissioned a statue of gilt that would be made to represent Queen Victoria, helped reface the Palace, and laid out the groundwork for the Memorial Gardens (Britain). It is easy to tell that Sir Aston Martin took pride in his monarchs living the most exquisite lifestyle. The arch finished construction in 1912 and King Edward had a Latin inscription placed along the top of the arch that reads in English, "In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910" (Britain). The arch consists of 3 separate arches where there is a pedestrian crossing.
Encompassing all of this background on the Admiralty Arch, it is easy to draw themes of wealth, luxury, and people of the highest class. Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway in Bond Street" exposes Mrs. Dalloway's stream of consciousness as she walks about London. In a certain part of the story, she stumbles upon the Arch and recalls her times speaking with Queen Victoria and the importance that she stop what she was doing and bow to the Queen as a kid. She then continues to recall fond memories about her encounters with the monarchy before the stream of consciousness drifts off unto other things.
Overall, it is obvious that the Admiralty Arch is a symbol of monarchy, wealth, and elegance. At the start 21st century, the arch was remodeled on the inside to have offices for the English bureaucracy. In 2012, the Arch was sold and will be made into a luxury hotel by 2024 to offer views of Buckingham Palace (The Royal).
Works Cited
Britain Express. “Admiralty Arch, London: History, Photos & Visiting Information.” Britain Express, https://www.britainexpress.com/London/Admiralty_Arch.htm.
The Royal Parks. “Admiralty Arch.” The Royal Parks, https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park/things-to-see-and-do…;
Images, Getty. “Admiralty Arch Hotel.” Luxury Travel Advisor, https://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/hotels/admiralty-arch-will-welcome-…. Accessed 21 Oct. 2022.
Heathcote, Edwin. “Why London's Admiralty Arch Is More than Just a Grand Entrance.” Financial Times, Financial Times, 21 July 2016, https://www.ft.com/content/a7e59a56-49a5-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab.
Sampson, Annabel. “Arch Elegance: Fancy Living in One of London's Most Historic Buildings?” Tatler, 14 Mar. 2022, https://www.tatler.com/article/admiralty-arch-waldorf-astoria-most-glam…;