Prince Charles will come face to face with one of his ancestors when he officially unveils the restored statue of King Edward VII in Birmingham city centre next week.
Security is set to be tight for the Royal visit following the attack on the Prince and wife Camilla during the student protests in London a week ago.
The Prince of Wales will also visit the Frankfurt Christmas Market during his city centre visit on Wednesday, December 22.
His security has been stepped up after student demonstrators ambushed and pelted his Rolls-Royce in Regent Street, London during tuition fee protests.
Since then he has attended engagements in an armoured Bentley car, escorted by a phalanx of police vehicles. But he will find time to talk to traders at the largest German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria.
In 1913 crowds turned out to see the King Edward VII statue, made by sculptor Albert Toft, unveiled in Victoria Square.
But it was moved to Highgate Park in 1951 when Victoria Square was remodelled and has since suffered at the hands of vandals.
The statue was removed from Highgate Park in July 2009 and has undergone restoration work costing £114,000.
It’s new location is outside Baskerville House, Centenary Square, near the statues local sculptor Albert Toft made for the Hall of Memory.
City cabinet member for culture Martin Mullaney, who backed the statue’s restoration, said: “This project has been a real team effort with the Victorian Society, Birmingham Civic Society and a range of other stakeholders all playing a part.
"To get the royal seal of approval represents a fitting end to this restoration project.”
The King Edward statue was originally commissioned after readers of the Birmingham Mail raised £5,000 to pay for a fitting tribute to the popular monarch, known as the Peacemaker, following his death in 1910.
