Queen Elizabeth II to have statue erected in Wales

The Cabinet Office revealed this week Westminster would provide the financial backing, although the precise sum has not been disclosed.

Decisions regarding the memorial's final cost, design, location and timeline now lie with the Welsh Government.

However, a Senedd spokesman indicated such matters would fall to the incoming administration following the Welsh elections on May 7.

No specifics about the Welsh monument's form or placement have yet emerged.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch, who dedicated seven decades to the Crown before her death at Balmoral in September 2022 at the age of 96.

"As our longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her entire life to public service," Sir Keir stated.

The Prime Minister added the nation would "commemorate her extraordinary reign with a memorial that offers a place of reflection for generations to come".

The announcement coincided with commemorations marking what would have been the late sovereign's centenary, with King Charles leading the Royal Family in celebrating her remarkable life and legacy.

Plans for a separate memorial in London's St James's Park, overlooking The Mall, were first announced in September 2024.

Earlier this week, further details emerged revealing sculptor Martin Jennings will create a bronze statue depicting Elizabeth II during the early years of her reign.

The artist will draw inspiration from a celebrated 1955 portrait by Italian painter Pietro Annigoni.

King Charles visited the British Museum to view the final design on Tuesday, describing it as "fantastic".

The occasion was marked by a Buckingham Palace reception attended by charities the late Queen had served throughout her 70-year reign, including the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal Ballet.

The UK Government has additionally unveiled a digital memorial that will compile materials from museums, archives and media outlets across the nation.

This online tribute will chart significant moments from Elizabeth II's reign while enabling the public to contribute their own memories and photographs.

Prominent figures including Olympic diver Tom Daley, artist Dame Tracey Emin and Baroness Valerie Amos have already shared their recollections.

Designs for the London memorial and information about the Queen Elizabeth Trust and Digital Memorial are currently on display at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, marking the first opportunity to view the proposals outside the capital.

Reform UK welcomed the monument plans, with a spokesman noting: "There are far too few signs of national pride in our public spaces."

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