Sadiq Khan sets the record straight after Buckingham Palace confusion

Dorothy Reddin
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:32:26 +0000

Sir Sadiq Khan's spokeswoman has set the record straight after confusion arose about the Mayor of London's attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's centenary celebrations.

It was originally understood that Sir Sadiq would be joining Princess Anne at Regent's Park for the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Garden.

However, the Mayor of London was not in attendance at that specific event.

Instead, he joined King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Sir Keir Starmer at the British Museum to view the design recommendations for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial.

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Buckingham Palace declined to comment when approached by GB News, insisting it was a matter for Sir Sadiq to address.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London told the People's Channel: "The Mayor attended the event presenting the official recommendations of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Committee at the British Museum."

Following her death in September 2022, Sir Sadiq praised Queen Elizabeth II as a "shining force that bound us all together".

He also highlighted her "unique and unrivalled" ability to unite people and her "calm, understated leadership" during decades of transformation.

During the national mourning period for the late Queen, he stated that while anti-monarchy protests were lawful and a cornerstone of democracy, he personally found them "disrespectful" given the public's outpouring of grief.

In 2025, Sir Sadiq was knighted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for his public service.

On Tuesday, the King expressed strong support for the memorial design of his late mother, describing it as "fantastic" during a viewing of a scale model at the British Museum.

King Charles praised the concept of basing the new glass bridge on Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, which his mother wore at her wedding, calling it "a wonderful idea."

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The statue also received warm words from other members of the Royal Family present at the unveiling.

The Duchess of Edinburgh commented: "It's a lovely statue. It's how she would like to be remembered as a young woman."

Sculptor Martin Jennings reported that the King's response to seeing the sculptures for the first time was "warm and encouraging."

The memorial park has been designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, with the bronze statues created by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings.

The Queen's likeness draws inspiration from Pietro Annigoni's celebrated 1955 portrait, while Prince Philip will be depicted at a similar age in his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform, standing with both arms behind his back as he often did.

When mounted on its plinth, the Queen's statue will reach seven metres in height, positioned so her head catches the evening light.

Additional features include a cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, a bust of the late monarch in her later years by sculptor Karen Newman, and a Commonwealth wind sculpture by Yinka Shonibare.

The memorial is scheduled for completion in 2028.