Princess Anne steps out in Regent's Park to open Queen Elizabeth II Garden

Dorothy Reddin
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:52:41 +0000

Princess Anne stepped out in Regent's Park to honour the late Queen today.

The Princess Royal officially opened the Queen Elizabeth II Garden, a newly created two-acre memorial space situated within Regent's Park.

The tranquil garden, designed as a fully accessible area for quiet contemplation in central London, honours the life and dedicated service of the late monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II would have celebrated her 100th birthday today, having been born on April 21, 2026.

She died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96, just months after her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Dr Linda Yeuh, who chairs the Royal Parks, greeted Princess Anne upon her arrival at the site today.

Representatives from The Queen Elizabeth II Garden Project subsequently guided the Princess Royal through the grounds.

They explained the various design elements and introduced her to members of the horticultural team responsible for maintaining the space.

During the ceremony, Anne visited the Water Tower, where blacksmith Ian Thackray, an alumnus of the King's Foundation, described the significance of the water feature he had created.

The mother-of-two was then presented with a gilded metal flower specially crafted for the memorial site.

A reception followed in the garden itself, which was due to be attended by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan; however, he ultimately attended the viewings of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial designs at the British Museum instead.

The Princess Royal concluded the official proceedings by unveiling a commemorative plaque, formally marking the opening of the space developed through a collaboration between the Royal Parks and HTA Design.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

King Charles moves historic sculpture from London museum to his royal residence

MasterChef judge rushes to Meghan Markle's defence

Creator of the teddy bear marks Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday with toy

The garden features a circular pond designed to support wildlife, alongside flower beds planted with species that held particular significance for the late Queen.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy panoramic views across Regent's Park from a dedicated viewing platform.

Environmental sustainability sits at the heart of the project, with climate-resilient planting throughout and a projected biodiversity net gain of 184 per cent.

The memorial space, which showcases sustainable horticultural practices, will welcome its first public visitors on April 27, 2026, less than a week after today's official opening ceremony.