Queen Elizabeth's National Memorial Plans Are Finally Unveiled

After Queen Elizabeth passed away, there was a great debate over where a memorial statue to her should be placed. Now, both the location and the statue has been unveiled: the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II will transform St James’s Park.

The memorial will feature a new “family of gardens,” a statue of Queen Elizabeth on horseback, a statue of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip side-by-side, and a new bridge inspired by her wedding tiara.

The concept art for the memorial statue to Queen Elizabeth.

Foster + Partners, a “global studio for sustainable architecture, urbanism, engineering and design,” won the search for the design out of five finalists. The winning team includes artist Yinka Shonibare, landscape designer Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, and ecologist Nigel Dunnett.

“It is an honour and a privilege for our team to be awarded this project,” Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners, said in a statement. “Her Majesty loved history and tradition, so this is reflected in the inspiration of the original design of St James’s Park by Sir John Nash. Some of his principles have survived, whilst others have been lost and will be restored, creating a family of gardens joined by gently meandering paths.”

In an interview with the BBC, Foster said, “I think the location is something which would have appealed to her. You can see the bridge from the room where she often sat for paintings.”

A highlight of the winning bid includes a new translucent bridge inspired by Elizabeth’s wedding tiara, replacing St. James's Park's existing blue bridge near Buckingham Palace. “At the heart of our masterplan is a translucent bridge symbolic of Her Majesty as a unifying force, bringing together nations, countries, the Commonwealth, charities and the armed forces,” Foster said.

Elizabeth and Philip on their wedding day in 1947.

“Foster + Partners' ambitious and thoughtful masterplan will allow us and future generations to appreciate Queen Elizabeth's life of service as she balanced continuity and change with strong values, common sense and optimism throughout her long reign,” Robin Janvrin, Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee Chair, said. Janvrin served as Queen Elizabeth's private secretary for nearly a decade.

The final design and plan will be announced next April, on what would be the Queen's 100th birthday. The committee and Foster + Partners will now work to select a sculptor to design the statues.