Monkey Queen

Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Year: 2003
Sheet: 50×35 cm (19 1/2 x 13 5/8 inches)
Edition: 750 (of which 150 signed)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

“Celebrate the fact the highest position in British society is not a reward for talent or hard work, but simply handed out with the accident of birth. God Save The Queen.”

In another iconic work, Laugh Now, Banksy depicts a monkey wearing a sandwich board that predicts, one day, society will run by our primate cousins – despite the fact that we humans are millions of years “ahead” of them from an evolutionary perspective. Perhaps, the artist suggests, we are not that much different and/or more sophisticated than they are. It’s a depressing outlook, and a damning statement about the state of affairs that we find ourselves in. This controversial, deliberately offensive imagery forces people to wrestle with how comfortable we truly are with the right to freedom of speech and expression, while simultaneously questioning the logic of having some of the world’s most powerful leaders born into the role.

Monkey Queen epitomizes Banksy’s artistic identity. The satirical image overtly criticizes the British leaders. Aligning the Queen with a primitive animal, the artist, in no uncertain terms, says that he believes the country is being run by apes. Along with the rat, the monkey is one of Banksy’s most frequently used animal characters. Satirizing the nature of humankind, Banksy uses these animals as didactic figures in his critical social commentary. The most expensive work of Banksy sold at auction is no other than Devolved Parliament, a giant painting depicting the British Parliament run by monkeys… From Laugh Now, to Keep It Real, or Monkey Detonator, monkeys are also a way for Banksy to express his own frustrations with human-kind.

Auction Market Overview

Monkey Queen (unsigned)

2026 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 19 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 7,000 – 9,000
GBP 6,000 (Hammer)
GBP 7,932 / USD 10,605

BANKSY (b.1974)
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colours on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 750 in pencil
Printed and published by Pictures on Walls, London

2025 Auction Results

SBI Art Auction: 12 September 2025
Estimated: JPY 1,200,000 – 1,800,000
JPY 2,127,500 / USD 14,450 / GBP 10,705
BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint
Numbered on the lower right
From the edition of 750

Tate Ward Auctions: 25 June 2025
Estimated: GBP 7,000 – 9,000
GBP 8,750 / USD 11,960

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Monkey Queen’ (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 750 in pencil

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Colored serigraph on wove paper
One of 750 numbered copies

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 10,710 / USD 13,837

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 191/750 in pencil (only the first 150 were signed)

2024 Auction Results

Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 24,000 / GBP 18,750

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 490/750

Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 10,080 / USD 13,406

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 338/750 in pencil (only the first 150 were signed)

Forum Auctions: 31 July 2024
Estimated: GBP 6,000 – 8,000
GBP 7,000 (Hammer)
GBP 9,380 / USD 12,005

BANKSY (b.1974)
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 750 in pencil

2023 Auction Results

Monkey Queen (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 73,875 (USD 92,698) at an average price of GBP 14,775 (USD 18,540). It sold at Forum Auctions on 24 May 2023 for its highest price of the year for GBP 18,760 (USD 23,200).

SBI Art Auction: 15 July 2023
Estimated: JPY 1,500,000 – 2,500,000
JPY 3,105,000 / USD 22,371 / GBP 17,085

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint
Numbered on the lower right
From the edition of 750

Phillips London: 8 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 13,970 / USD 17,390 

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 302/750 in pencil lower right

Forum Auctions: 24 May 2023
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
Hammer: GBP 14,000
GBP 18,760 / USD 23,200

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 750

Bonhams London: 19 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 10,200 / USD 12,689

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 13,860 / USD 17,048

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 429/750 in pencil lower right

2022 Auction Results

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 351/750 in pencil, lower right

Bonhams London: 3 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 35,250 / USD 47,940

BANKSY (born 1974)

Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors
Numbered 114/750 in pencil

2021 Auction Results

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Monkey Queen (unsigned) sold 9 times at auction in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 346,515 (USD 474,906) at an average price of GBP 38,502 (USD 52,767). It sold at SBI Art Auction in Tokyo on 23 April 2021 for JPY 7,705,000 (USD 71,200 / GBP 51,225), its auction record.

Sotheby’s online: 17 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 7,000 – 9,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 49,039

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 77/750 in pencil, lower right

SBI Art Auction: 23 April 2021
Estimated: JPY 2,500,000 – 3,500,000
JPY 7,705,000 / USD 71,200 / GBP 51,225
AUCTION RECORD FOR MONKEY QUEEN (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint
Numbered on the lower right
From the edition of 750

Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 47,880 / USD 66,553

BANKSY
Monkey Queen (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 441/750 in pencil, lower right

 

Monkey Queen (signed)

2026 Auction Results

Sotheby’s London: 25 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 17,920 / USD 23,995

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Monkey Queen (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in black felt-tip pen, dated 05 and numbered 52/750 in pencil
Published by Pictures on Walls

2025 Auction Results

BANKSY (b. 1975)
“Monkey Queen” (signed), 2003
Silkscreen in colors
Signed and numbered 117/750

2024 Auction Results

Bonhams London: 1 May 2024
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 17,280 / USD 21,600

Sotheby’s London: 26 January 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 21,590 / USD 27,455

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Monkey Queen (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in black ink and numbered 66/750