The forthcoming national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in St James’s Park will feature a unique statue of Prince Philip alongside the Queen, and a translucent glass bridge inspired by her wedding tiara, blending traditional and modern elements to honour Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, set to be constructed in St James’s Park near Buckingham Palace, will notably include a statue of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, alongside a traditional statue of the late Queen. The winning design, created by Lord Norman Foster’s team, was selected from a shortlist of five finalists and aims to celebrate Britain’s longest-reigning monarch with a blend of traditional and modern elements.
A standout feature of the memorial is a translucent bridge inspired by the shape of the Queen’s wedding tiara, evoking a sense of regal elegance and personal history. This bridge, equipped with a reinforced glass balustrade, will cross a section of the park’s pond, linking various parts of the memorial. The design also includes two new gates, gardens, and a Prince Philip Gate, emphasising the inseparable partnership between the Queen and her late husband, whose marriage lasted 73 years until his death in 2021. Lord Foster remarked on the inclusion of Prince Philip, saying, “We showed them together and, in a way, there was this inseparable quality which we sought to convey.”
Lord Robert Janvrin, chair of the memorial committee and the Queen’s former private secretary, described the design as a compelling balance of formal and informal elements, intending to help visitors reflect on the Queen’s extraordinary life of service and her role in the nation’s evolving identity. He highlighted the significance of locating the memorial in St James’s Park, visible from Buckingham Palace. Janvrin noted, “I think the location is something which would have appealed to her,” adding that the view of the bridge from the room where she often sat for portraits would be particularly meaningful.
The final memorial will be positioned prominently close to the Mall, incorporating landscaped gardens and walkways for visitors to enjoy. The project, which pushes creative boundaries by combining art and technology, carries a provisional budget ranging between £23 million and £46 million, though the exact cost and timeline for completion have not yet been finalised. It is planned to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Queen’s birth in 2026.
The selection process for the memorial design was highly competitive, attracting notable creative talent including Heatherwick Studio and Tom Stuart-Smith. The shortlist showcased a range of innovative proposals such as a statue of the Queen on horseback, giant limestone lily pads forming a canopy, a bronze oak tree centrepiece, and tranquil royal gardens with audio tributes. Public consultations on these designs remain open until May 19, 2025, inviting feedback that will inform the final announcement this summer.
Lord Foster’s involvement brings considerable prestige to the project, as his architectural achievements include the London Gherkin, the British Museum’s Great Court, and the Reichstag dome in Berlin. His team also features British artist Yinka Shonibare and ecologist Professor Nigel Dunnett, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to honouring the late Queen’s legacy.
The design’s inclusive focus on both the Queen and Prince Philip reflects the monarch’s own sentiments following her husband’s passing, as she spoke openly about her profound loss. This element lends a personal and poignant dimension to the memorial, reinforcing the narrative of enduring partnership and shared dedication to public service.
As St James’s Park is a central and historic location watched over by Buckingham Palace, the memorial promises to become a significant cultural landmark, thoughtfully designed to inspire reflection on the Queen’s life and the values she represented during her unparalleled reign.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8g98zxgg6o – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9w8wlqxxl0o – The UK government has unveiled a final shortlist of five proposed designs for a national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022. The memorial is planned to be located in St James’s Park, central London, near Buckingham Palace. The shortlisted designs include a statue of the Queen on horseback, a canopy of giant limestone lily pads, a tranquil family of royal gardens, a bedrock bridge with forested glades, and a bronze oak tree centerpiece. Public consultation on these designs is open until May 19, 2025, with the final design to be announced in the summer. The memorial is expected to be completed by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. The project is estimated to cost between £23 million and £46 million.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial-cost-st-jamess-park-buckingham-palace-royals-b1199540.html – The national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, planned for St James’s Park near Buckingham Palace, has a provisional construction budget of up to £46 million. The government is calling on leading artists, architects, and engineers to submit designs for the project. The memorial aims to provide a permanent tribute to the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, who died in 2022. The final design is expected to be announced in 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. The project will be funded by public funds, with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee judging submissions against value-for-money criteria.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/25/norman-foster-on-shortlist-to-design-queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial – Lord Norman Foster’s design team is among the shortlisted candidates to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. Foster’s team includes British artist Yinka Shonibare and ecologist Professor Nigel Dunnett. The competition attracted a wide range of creative talent, with other shortlisted teams including Heatherwick Studio, J&L Gibbons, Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, and WilkinsonEyre. The final design will be announced in the summer, with the memorial expected to be completed by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
- https://www.wsls.com/news/2025/05/07/giant-lily-pads-and-a-bronze-tree-are-among-designs-for-queen-elizabeth-iis-memorial/ – Five finalists have been unveiled for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, featuring designs such as giant limestone lily pads, royal gardens with an audio tribute, a symbolic bedrock bridge with forested glades, a bronze oak tree centerpiece, and gently woven pathways. The memorial aims to honor the late Queen’s legacy and provide a space for reflection. The public is invited to provide feedback on the designs until May 19, 2025, with the final design to be announced in the summer. The memorial is projected to cost between £23 million and £46 million.
- https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/a64969053/queen-elizabeth-ii-london-landmark-contest/ – A permanent memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II is underway, with five proposed designs shortlisted for the monument to be located in St James’s Park, near Buckingham Palace. The designs include a stone canopy of lilies by Heatherwick Studio, a cast of a Windsor oak tree by Tom Stuart-Smith, and a ‘tranquil family’ of royal gardens by Foster + Partners. The public can view the finalists’ designs and provide feedback until May 19, 2025. The final design will be announced in the summer, with the memorial expected to be completed by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9w8wlqxxl0o – The UK government has unveiled a final shortlist of five proposed designs for a national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022. The memorial is planned to be located in St James’s Park, central London, near Buckingham Palace. The shortlisted designs include a statue of the Queen on horseback, a canopy of giant limestone lily pads, a tranquil family of royal gardens, a bedrock bridge with forested glades, and a bronze oak tree centerpiece. Public consultation on these designs is open until May 19, 2025, with the final design to be announced in the summer. The memorial is expected to be completed by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. The project is estimated to cost between £23 million and £46 million.
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Notes: The narrative presents recent developments regarding the Queen Elizabeth II memorial in St James’s Park, including the selection of Lord Norman Foster’s design and the incorporation of Prince Philip’s statue. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 7 May 2025, when the final shortlist of designs was revealed. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
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