Queen Elizabeth II memorial design unveiled on 100th birthday

The memorial design was unveiled on what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday, according to multiple reports. The memorial is located in St James's Park, London, and features a standing bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II as a young woman in Garter robes. The statue is based on a portrait by Pietro Annigoni and is sculpted by Martin Jennings, who previously created a bust of the Queen Mother and the first crowned coinage portrait of King Charles III. The statue is 7.3 metres high, comprising a 3-metre figure on a 4.3-metre plinth. A smaller statue of Prince Philip in naval uniform will be placed 20 metres behind the Queen. The memorial includes a glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, designed by architects Fosters and Partners, who won a competition to design a national tribute to the late Queen. The memorial will create a new civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place at Marlborough Gate, near Buckingham Palace. The memorial monument will be located at the end of the glass bridge. The memorial also includes a digital memorial and a charitable trust, according to multiple reports.

The original design featured the Queen on horseback, but this was replaced with the current standing statue. The public and campaigners criticized the new design, preferring the equestrian statue, according to social media users and design critic Stephen Bayley. In contrast, King Charles praised the final design as 'fantastic'. This split between public opinion and royal approval may influence the memorial's reception.

The Queen Anne's Gate Residents Association opposed the memorial, citing concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour. The association alleged the memorial could spark a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour, citing rough sleeping, illegal cycling, and muggings. In a statement, the association said: 'Our members are concerned that several elements of the proposal will facilitate increased crime and anti-social behaviour. The creation of new hiding spaces for muggers and the creation of new spaces for overnight sleeping.' According to police data, in January alone, there were 1,078 incidents of theft and anti-social behaviour in the area, with 14,986 in total over the last 12 months. Millionaire locals fear a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in St James's Park could spark an increase in anti-social behaviour and muggings, according to the Queen Anne's Gate Residents Association. Residents have suggested the statue would cause a boom in tourism, inflicting 'harm' on the Grade I-listed park and causing congestion chaos.

Locals inferred that the Queen, known for her thrift and frugality, may not have backed plans with huge construction and maintenance costs. The memorial cost is between £23 million and £46 million, according to multiple reports. The 18th-century properties surrounding St James's Park have been labelled as 'the best of their kind in London'. Star-studded residents have included Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, founder of MI6, and Sting. Conservationists have alleged that critiques of the plan were 'not welcomed or addressed' in a recent public consultation. The association also stated: 'A major physical transformation of the park was not necessary or proportionate.'

Westminster City Council approved the memorial plans despite objections. The council gave the plans conditional approval just under two months after they were submitted. The architects behind the plans described the memorial as an 'exceptional opportunity to commemorate and celebrate a figure beloved worldwide'. The exact total cost of the memorial remains unclear, as does the timeline for construction and completion. It is also unknown how many people support versus oppose the new design, and what specific changes were made from the original equestrian design to the current one. How the concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour will be addressed by the council or designers has not been specified.