Focus on The Copper Horse and explore the Background.
The statue was announced in January 1821 by George IV, to commemorate his late father George III, who had died one year before.  George IV had visited Westmacott's studio in December 1820, where he saw a smaller equestrian statue of George III that had been commissioned by the Liverpool Corporation to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of George III, ten years earlier, delayed through very slow collection of public subscriptions.  That smaller statue, now displayed in Monument Place, Liverpool, depicts George III in classical garb, mounted on a horse, with his right arm outstretched, in the manner of the second century Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome.  Westmacott had studied in Rome in the 1790s under Antonio Canova.
The avenue of trees of the Long Walk, leading from Windsor Castle to Snow Hill, was created by Charles II.  The hilltop was the proposed site for several earlier monument - the Duke of Cumberland planned to reconstruct the Holbein Gate from Whitehall there, and Charles Kelsall proposed a new Temple of Diana – but none came to fruition, so the site was still vacant.  According to contemporary newspapers in January 1821, George IV ordered "a full length statue in bronze of George III to be erected on the top of Snow Hill, Windsor Park, with his hand pointing towards his favourite residence, Windsor Castle".
George IV Duke of Cumberland George III Charles Kelsall equestrian statue Diana Golden Jubilee of George III Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius Holbein Gate Windsor Castle Charles II Antonio Canova