King Charles and under-fire Keir Starmer view complete design for national memorial honouring the late Queen

Svar Nanan-Sen
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:05:12 +0000

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the British Museum today alongside the Prime Minister to examine the completed design for the national memorial honouring the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Lord Janvrin, who chairs the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, was among those present for the occasion.

The embattled Prime Minister was welcomed outside the central London institution by George Osborne, the former Conservative chancellor who chairs the museum, alongside director Nicholas Cullinan.

Smiling as he ascended the grand entrance steps, Sir Keir Starmer offered only a brief "morning" to assembled photographers while declining to engage with journalists' questions regarding Lord Mandelson.

The Prime Minister finds himself embroiled in the ongoing scandal surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were shown a scale model of the memorial by its designer, Lord Norman Foster, during their time in the Reading Room.

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A short film showcasing design elements was also screened for the King and Queen, who additionally viewed various artwork displays related to the project.

The King and Queen encountered the trio of artists commissioned to produce sculptures for the memorial site: Martin Jennings, Yinka Shonibare and Karen Newman, who presented maquettes of their planned works.

These small-scale models, along with Lord Foster's memorial design, will be available for public viewing at the British Museum.

King Charles and Prince William separately held discussions with leadership from the Queen Elizabeth Trust, including its Chair and Interim Chief Executive.

The visit concluded with a reception in the Great Hall, where the King and Queen met representatives from organisations throughout the United Kingdom that have played a role in bringing the memorial projects to fruition.

It comes after Buckingham Palace released a deeply personal speech from the King honouring what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday.

The heartfelt message, filmed at Balmoral Castle's Library during early April, marks the beginning of a day filled with commemorative activities across London.

The recording from the Scottish royal residence carries particular significance, given Balmoral's importance to the late Queen, who spent her final days there before her death in September 2022.

In his address, the King described the occasion as a moment for his family to "reflect on the life and loss of a Sovereign who meant so much to us all and to celebrate anew the many blessings of her memory."

He spoke of how his mother's "promise with destiny kept" influenced countless lives throughout Britain, the Commonwealth and beyond.

Despite witnessing extraordinary transformation during her near-century of life, the King noted she "remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served."

The monarch also recalled lighter moments, including "that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life."

The King acknowledged "much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply" but drew comfort from his mother's conviction that "goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon."

King Charles concluded by renewing "my own solemn pledge of duty and service to you all," adding: "God bless you, darling Mama; you remain forever in our hearts and prayers."