Matilda statue standing defiantly in front of Trump unveiled to mark 30th anniversary of the Roald Dahl book

A public survey decided who the iconic character would be facing down

A statue of one of Roald Dahl’s iconic characters staring down Donald Trump has been unveiled near the author’s home.

The striking installation depicts Matilda Wormwood standing defiantly before the US president and marks 30 years since the children’s book was first published.

The idea for the statues initially came about after The Roald Dahl Story Company conducted a survey asking the public who they thought Matilda would be facing down should she be alive today.

A statue of Roald Dahl's Matilda is unveiled in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, alongside one of President Donald Trump, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Matilda the novel. (David Parry/PA Wire)

Forty-two percent of people agreed that the now-30-something bookworm, who famously stood against the terrifying Miss Trunchbull, would be staunchly against Trump. Other popular suggestions included Theresa May (21%) and Piers Morgan (16%).

Bernie Hall, from The Roald Dahl Story Company, said: “Matilda demonstrates that it’s possible for anyone, no matter how small and powerless they feel, to defeat the Trunchbulls in their own lives – a message that feels more relevant today than it did 30-years-ago.”

The statues stand in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, the town where the late author lived for 36 years, and will be available to be viewed at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre for a few weeks.

The public were also asked to vote on who they believed Matilda would be friends with actress Emma Watson (24%), the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle (14%) and musician Ed Sheeran (9%) being the most popular picks. Matilda’s most plausible career choices were school teacher (24%), UN ambassador (12%) or librarian (11%), according to the poll.

Sir Quentin Blake, who illustrated the original book, has done several new drawings depicting Matilda in her thirties that will be published in a special anniversary edition of the book.