An iconic example of Banksy’s unapologetic and often controversial humour, Monkey Queen was released in 2003 as an edition of 750 prints of which 150 are signed. The tongue-in-cheek image sees the Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait replaced by that of a monkey, rendered in Banksy’s spray-stencil-style. The ape is wearing Her Majesty’s crown and jewellery against a background reminiscent of the Union Jack in colours and pattern. However, the background is in fact a ‘target’ symbol referencing the 1960s British youth subculture of Mods.

The Monkey Queen painting originally appeared around 2004 at a youth centre’s club in Newent, called The Chill Out Zone. With this powerful yet comical image, Banksy is investigating the effect of the monarchy and British class-based society, in line with the street artist’s consistent critique of authorities and the establishment throughout his oeuvre. Using animals and specifically monkeys as symbols is a recurrent motif for the artist, appearing in the famous print Laugh Now from 2004, where the figure symbolises the common people.