The final plans for a permanent memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in London’s St James’s Park have been revealed as the Royal Family marks 100 years since her birth
The national memorial to the late Queen is set to feature a statue of her in the early days of her reign, inspired by a famous portrait, it has been revealed.
The masterplan for the memorial, which has a budget of up to £46million, has been unveiled to mark 100 years since the former monarch’s birth by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee.
And later on Tuesday, the King, Queen and other members of the Royal Family, along with the Prime Minister, will view the designs and other elements of the memorial at a special event at the British Museum.
The memorial, which will be located in St James’ Park, has been designed by architects Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, and both say the design “commemorates Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her lifelong commitment to public service”.
It features a brand new standing statue of the late Queen, which will overlook The Mall at Marlborough Gate, close to Buckingham Palace. The statue will depict Elizabeth II in the early stages of her reign, dressed in the robes of the Order of the Garter, and based on a famous painting of her by Pietro Annigoni. It will be sculpted in bronze by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings.
The statue will stand 7.3 metres high – with the Queen three metres tall on a 4.3-metre plinth – in a new civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place on the edge of the park.
A “few paces behind” the Queen, as was his usual position, will be a smaller statue of her consort Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in his Naval uniform, looking up at his wife of more than 70 years.
The smaller companion statue – 3.8 metres in height with a 2.3-metre figure and a 1.5-metre plinth, of the duke will be located 20 metres behind in the park. Philip will be represented at a similar age, wearing his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform. The designers say the appearance of both statues will be further refined during the sculpting process.
