PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN


The final designs for a national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II have been unveiled at an event at the British Museum marking the centenary of her birth on Tuesday (21April2026).

The permanent memorial park, created by Norman Foster’s firm Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, is intended to honour the late Queen’s lifetime of public service.

Lord Foster presented the designs to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, alongside other members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The Foster + Partners, founder said: “The Queen’s reign encompassed periods of significant change - socially and technologically - which she negotiated with incredible composure and stability.

Outlining the reasoning behind the designs, he added, “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 memorial will include a cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, worn by the Queen on her wedding day, as well as a bust of the monarch in her later years by sculptor Karen Newman.

Other features include the Commonwealth Wind Sculpture, an abstract work by Yinka Shonibare, and a compass designed by Lord Foster to represent the nations of the Commonwealth.
Gardens dedicated to both the Commonwealth and the nations of the United Kingdom will provide spaces for reflection.

A separate statue of the Queen will overlook The Mall at Marlborough Gate. The bronze sculpture, by Martin Jennings, will depict her early in her reign wearing the robes of the Order of the Garter, inspired by a well-known portrait by Pietro Annigoni.

Jennings will also create a nearby statue of Prince Philip, shown at a similar age in the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, recognising his support during the Queen’s 70-year reign.

The project was developed with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee following a design competition held last year. The King has been kept informed throughout the process.

The proposals were approved by the Prime Minister this month.

He 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.”

A digital memorial is also being launched, bringing together newly digitised Court Circular records and materials from museums, archives and media organisations to document the Queen’s public life.

A new independent charity, the Queen Elizabeth Trust, has been established to mark the centenary and honour her commitment to public service.

Models of the memorial and further information will go on display across the UK on 24 April, including at the National Galleries of Scotland, the Wales Millennium Centre and Hillsborough Castle.