Lord Norman Foster's architectural team has secured the commission to create the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II in St James's Park, with a distinctive design that will honour both the late monarch and Prince Philip.
The winning proposal emerged from a shortlist of five concepts and notably includes the Duke of Edinburgh alongside the Queen, reflecting their 73-year marriage that ended with his death in 2021.
The memorial's multi-faceted approach encompasses several elements: a primary statue of the Queen positioned near the Mall, a separate sculpture depicting the royal couple together, landscaped gardens, and a Prince Philip Gate.
A striking feature of the design is a translucent bridge with reinforced glass balustrades, drawing inspiration from the tiara worn by the Queen at her 1947 wedding.
Lord Foster described receiving the commission as "an honour and a privilege" for his team.
Lord Norman Foster's architectural team has secured the commission to create the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II in St James's Park, with a distinctive design that will honour both the late monarch and Prince Philip.
Foster + Partners
The comprehensive design will transform a section of St James's Park through extensive re-landscaping, incorporating two new gates and gardens alongside the memorial sculptures.
Lord Foster explained that the bridge would possess a "jewel-like" quality, with its delicate, luminous structure echoing the significance of the Queen's wedding tiara.
The main monument will depict the late Queen on horseback, positioned prominently close to the Mall. Lord Foster noted she was "so synonymous" with horse riding.
"We showed them together and, in a way, there was this inseparable quality which we sought to convey," Lord Foster said of the decision to include Prince Philip in the memorial design.
The project aims to push creative boundaries, with Lord Foster stating it "stretched the boundaries of art and technology" whilst attempting to capture the "values she represented" for the "many people who are passing through the park".
The sculptor for the statues has not yet been appointed, though initial illustrations show a traditional representation of the Queen on horseback.
Foster + Partners
Lord Robert Janvrin, chair of the memorial committee and the late Queen's former private secretary, described the chosen design as balancing "traditional elements and modern elements, informal and formal".
He expressed confidence that the Queen would have appreciated the St James's Park location. "I think the location is something which would have appealed to her. You can see the bridge from the room where she often sat for paintings," he said.
Lord Janvrin believes the memorial should help people "reflect on an extraordinary life, someone who for a very long reign was part of the way that this nation looked at itself, the way that we changed and evolved".
The memorial aims to evoke a "sense of her life of service", he added.
Lord Foster suggested the various layers of the memorial would convey the "richness, the complexity and the many different dimensions" of the late Queen's reign.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
- Kate and William labelled 'staggeringly out of touch' and told to 'take a lesson' from King and Camilla
- King Charles paid millions to allow Hollywood blockbuster to film at Royal Family residence
- Prince Harry's silence on Prince William and clash with Queen Camilla undermines his offer to King Charles
The memorial's completion date remains unconfirmed, with the final budget yet to be determined. Previous estimates suggested costs between £23m and £46m.
Foster + Partners
The memorial's completion date remains unconfirmed, with the final budget yet to be determined. Previous estimates suggested costs between £23m and £46m.
The late Queen spoke of how much she missed her "beloved" husband following his death, and this memorial design reunites them through the shared sculptures and dedicated Prince Philip gate.
Baroness Amos, who served on the selection committee, praised the "ambitious design" that would "create a beautiful space for people to come together".
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, described it as a "beautiful memorial" to the late Queen's "life and legacy of public service" that would provide a "space to reflect on and celebrate our longest-reigning monarch for centuries to come".
The sculptor for the statues has not yet been appointed, though initial illustrations show a traditional representation of the Queen on horseback.
Most Read
