The winner of The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry 2006

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the award of The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry for the year 2006 to Fleur Adcock.

Biography of the winner

Fleur Adcock was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1934, but spent much of her childhood (including the war years) in England, where she has lived since 1963. In addition to her own poems, she has published translations of Romanian and medieval Latin poetry, and has edited several anthologies. She became FRSL in 1984 and was awarded the OBE in 1996. Her Poems 1960-2000 received widespread critical acclaim.

History of the Gold Medal for Poetry

The Gold Medal for Poetry was instituted by King George V in 1933 at the suggestion of the then Poet Laureate, John Masefield.

Recommendations for the award of the Medal are made by a committee of eminent men and women of letters, under the chairmanship of the Poet Laureate (Professor Andrew Motion).

The Medal is given for a book of verse published by someone from the United Kingdom or a Commonwealth realm. The obverse of the medal bears the crowned effigy of The Queen. The idea of the reverse, which was designed by the late Edmund Dulac, is "Truth is emerging from her well and holding in her right hand the divine flame of inspiration - Beauty is truth and Truth Beauty".