Plans for a permanent national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II have been unveiled in London on what would have been the late monarch’s 100th birthday.
The tribute, to be created in St James’s Park, will feature a prominent bronze statue of the Queen in the early years of her reign, positioned to overlook The Mall near Buckingham Palace. The sculpture is expected to become the centrepiece of a wider landscaped memorial intended as a place for reflection and public gathering.
Designed by Foster + Partners, the project includes gardens, walking routes and a new glass bridge inspired by the Fringe Tiara worn by the Queen on her wedding day. The bridge is expected to replace the existing Blue Bridge within the park.
The principal statue, by sculptor Martin Jennings, takes inspiration from a celebrated 1955 portrait by Pietro Annigoni, showing the Queen at the age of 28 in the robes of the Order of the Garter.
A separate statue of Prince Philip will stand nearby, depicting the late Duke of Edinburgh in naval uniform. Committee members said the placement recognises the support he gave the Queen throughout her reign.
Lord Janvrin, the Queen’s former private secretary and chairman of the memorial committee, said the design sought to capture both the Queen’s public role and the partnership at the heart of the monarchy. He described the Annigoni portrait as an enduring image of the young sovereign.
The memorial will also include a later-life bust of the Queen by sculptor Karen Newman, as well as a new artwork by Yinka Shonibare celebrating the Commonwealth.
Alongside the physical monument, a new charity – the Queen Elizabeth Trust – has been launched with an initial £40 million government endowment. The trust will fund the renewal of community spaces across the United Kingdom in honour of the late Queen’s commitment to public service.
A separate digital memorial has also gone live, inviting members of the public to share memories, photographs and personal reflections. The online archive will also digitise the Court Circular, creating a searchable record of the Queen’s official engagements and milestones throughout her 70-year reign.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the memorial would give future generations a place to reflect on the life and service of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Models of the scheme are being displayed at the British Museum before travelling to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Hillsborough Castle. Construction of the permanent memorial is expected to be completed in 2028.
