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The statue appeared on a plinth in Waterloo Place on Wednesday
A large statue has appeared in central London that appears to bear the signature of the elusive street artist Banksy.
The sculpture of a suited man walking forward off a plinth, while carrying a flag with one hand that also covers his face, was first spotted in St James's on Wednesday.
It sits on Waterloo Place, near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial.
'Banksy' has been scrawled on to the bottom of the plinth, leading to speculation the artist is behind it, although there has been no official confirmation.
In 2004, The Drinker, a subversive take on Rodin's The Thinker, was installed on Shaftesbury Avenue before being stolen soon afterwards.
Banksy's signature appears to have been etched on to the plinth
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People have been gathering to take photos of the statue
It was placed in front of the gilded statue of Athena on the façade of the Athenaeum Club
Waterloo Place is a historic area in central London known for its grand architecture and numerous statues, including the Duke of York, Edward VII, and the Memorial to the Crimea.
It is near to the Mall and Buckingham Palace.
The area, pictured here in 2020, is known for its historic sculptures
Banksy is well known for high‑profile and often controversial works around the world, but his most recent pieces have all appeared in London.
In 2024, the street artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces including a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans.
Each time, the pieces have appeared to have been installed covertly and later confirmed as his work on his Instagram account.
His works, installed on both private and public property, are widely interpreted as political statements and are often removed soon after they appear.
