Prince Michael of Kent officially unveils Uri Geller's gorilla sculpture
TV star Uri Geller and His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent flew into Shropshire today to unveil a gorilla sculpture made entirely of spoons – designed especially for the illusionist's garden.
Hundreds of invited guests and local dignitaries attended the event at the British Ironworks Centre in Aston near Oswestry.
The 12ft and 2.5 tonne sculpture was made from around 40,000 spoons, which had been donated from all around the globe.
It was made by the Shropshire company for spoon-bender, who plans to put it on display in his garden as an attraction for the terminally children he regularly invites round for visits.
His Royal Highness is a good friend of Mr Geller, and was asked by him to perform the unveiling.
The pair arrived by helicopter at lunchtime to reveal the sculpture before taking a tour of the British Ironwork Centre.
The Prince has been very interested in the event and Mr Geller said he accepted the invitation to help with the unveiling "without hesitation."
See also: Royal unveiling of Uri's gorilla sculpture
Following the official unveiling, Mr Geller said: "I am simply stunned - I am keeping away from the spoons.
"This is not to raise funds, this is just to amaze the people who come to my house who are not well."
Mr Geller already has a collection of unusual artefacts, including a Cadillac covered in spoons.
He said: "I see what happens to them when they see my Cadillac and that only has 3,000 spoons on it.
"I hope they are inspired by this.
"I don't know how I am going to get it home – I wish I did."
Clive Knowles, from the British Ironworks Centre, said: "Today has just been unbelievable, we've been really blessed with the weather – it is better than we could have hoped for.
"We're all delighted to have the Prince here in Shropshire.
"I never believed this project would turn out like this, it's so beautiful. I'm so relieved that it has been finished.
"It has been four or five months of work and it has been absolutely full on, every day.
"Some nights we have been working straight through and last night was one of those nights but it is absolutely unbelievable how it all came together."
