The Octagon supports the Royal Hospital's distinctive cupola and lantern and rises to a height of 130 ft. Over the north entrance are the Royal Coat of Arms removed from the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham, Dublin at its closure in 1925.
The Statue of a Chelsea Pensioner on the North Front, by Philip Jackson, was unveiled in 2000 to commemorate the Millennium. The In-Pensioner is worn by war and bent by age but still stands proud. About the base is the soldiers' prayer, based on that said by Sir Jacob Astley before the Battle of Edgehill (1642) - "O Lord you know how occupied I shall be this day. If I forget thee do not forget me".