The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee has released its final recommendations as the country looks to honour the longest-ever reigning monarch.
The master plan for a permanent memorial in St James’s Park, London; a new charitable trust, The Queen Elizabeth Trust; and an online digital memorial have all been unveiled.
Plans for the St James’s Park memorial, designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, will feature a statue of the late monarch as a young woman overlooking The Mall at Marlborough Gate and a new glass bridge.
Meanwhile, the new charitable trust will aim to regenerate community assets across the United Kingdom, and the digital memorial will allow people to submit their own memories of the late Queen.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “As our longest‑serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service. The nation will commemorate her extraordinary reign with a memorial that offers a place of reflection for generations to come.”
The permanent memorial in St James’s Park will feature statues by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings, a new cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, a bust of Her Majesty in her later years by sculptor Karen Newman, and The Commonwealth Wind Sculpture, a new abstract work by Yinka Shonibare.
Gardens dedicated to the Commonwealth and to the nations of the United Kingdom also feature in the designs.
Fosters + Partners won a design competition held last year to create the majestic plans.
Plans for the St James’s Park memorial, designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, will feature a statue of the late monarch as a young woman overlooking The Mall at Marlborough Gate
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Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, Lord Foster said: “The Queen’s reign encompassed periods of significant change – socially and technologically – which she negotiated with incredible composure and stability.
“The memorial reaches across all ages and interests – and communicates the common values that Her Majesty promoted.
“With a serene and contemplative atmosphere, there will be opportunities to rediscover – or perhaps for some to discover – the legacy of Her Majesty.”
The Queen Elizabeth Trust has also been established as part of the recommendations, honouring the late Queen’s dedication and commitment to public service throughout her record-breaking reign.
The Commonwealth Wind Sculpture, a new abstract work by Yinka Shonibare, will also be erected at St James’s Park
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The King has accepted the Royal Patronage of the Trust, which will bring the late Queen’s values to life for present and future generations.
Inspired by the words “everyone is our neighbour”, uttered by Queen Elizabeth II during her 21st birthday speech, the Trust aims to work to support and restore public spaces at the heart of local life, such as community centres and green spaces.
The Government is providing a one-off £40million endowment, funding the support of local projects across the country, and is expected to act as a catalyst for future fundraising.
Interim Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Trust Claire Whitaker CBE said: “I am delighted to be part of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, a charity which aims to make a lasting difference in communities across the UK.
“Its focus on working hand in hand with people to renew and sustain shared spaces reflects what we’ve heard from local groups across the four nations: that these places work best when they are shaped by and for the communities they serve.
“I am looking forward to seeing this work come to life over the coming months, and to supporting inclusive, revitalised spaces which bring people together for years to come.”
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, established in 2023 to develop plans for the memorial, also revealed plans for a digital memorial.
The interactive platform maps significant moments from her reign and invites people worldwide to contribute their own photographs and recollections, tagging them to specific events and locations.
Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee Lord Janvrin said: ‘Queen Elizabeth was admired around the world for her quiet leadership through times of great change’
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Prominent figures including Tom Daley, Dame Tracey Emin and Baroness Valerie Amos have already submitted their memories.
Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee Lord Janvrin said: “Queen Elizabeth was admired around the world for her quiet leadership through times of great change – driven by her common sense, optimism and strong sense of duty.
“Our task has been to recommend a memorial capturing her role, her personality and what she meant to so many of us – whilst being of public benefit, which was so important to her.
“We hope the physical memorial will enhance a most beautiful space in the heart of our capital for people to meet, relax and reflect, whilst the new Queen Elizabeth Trust aims to benefit local communities in every part of the United Kingdom.
“The digital memorial will allow people across the country, the Commonwealth and beyond to share their memories of the late Queen to build a living archive of her reign for future generations.”
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