Conflicting reports exist about the timing of the memorial plan unveiling, with some indicating details have been released while others state final plans are to be announced in April 2026, coinciding with what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's hundredth birthday year. This discrepancy affects public understanding of the project's current status.
At the heart of the memorial would be a bronze statue of the Queen in her 20s, dressed in the robes of the Order of the Garter, standing overlooking The Mall at the entrance to the St James's Park memorial, according to plans. The likeness of the Queen by sculptor Martin Jennings would take inspiration from the celebrated 1955 portrait of Elizabeth II by Italian artist Pietro Annigoni. The statue would stand 7.3 metres high – with the Queen three metres tall on a 4.3-metre plinth – in a new civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place at Marlborough Gate on the edge of the park.
A smaller statue of Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in his Naval uniform, would be placed a few paces behind the Queen's statue, plans indicate. The smaller companion statue of the duke would be 3.8 metres in height with a 2.3-metre figure and a 1.5-metre plinth, located 20 metres behind in the park. Philip would be represented at a similar age, wearing his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform.
The memorial has been designed by renowned architect Lord Foster, with proposals developed by Foster + Partners alongside landscape designer Michel Desvigne and horticulturalist Professor Nigel Dunnett, according to reports. These proposals draw on the existing character of St James's Park while reflecting Queen Elizabeth II's seven-decade relationship with the Commonwealth. The overall design extends John Nash's 1820s picturesque landscape into a contemporary commemorative setting, introducing open meadows planted with species from across the four nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
As a champion of the Commonwealth and the arts, particularly through her involvement with the Royal Academy, this project feels especially close to my heart.
The proposed memorial gardens would feature plants from across the Commonwealth, with the South Garden sitting at the heart of the memorial's Commonwealth vision, plans show. Designed as the largest garden within the scheme, it is conceived to accommodate group gatherings and quiet individual reflection. From the South Garden, visitors would be able to enjoy views of Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial.
The South Garden has been designed around Commonwealth connections, with a sculpture by Yinka Shonibare CBE. Yinka Shonibare CBE's proposed Commonwealth Wind Sculpture would offer a vivid expression of the same themes. Inspired by Queen Elizabeth II's coronation gown, the work uses colour, movement and form to reflect how the Queen brought together the diverse nations of the Commonwealth. The bronze sculpture billows upward as though frozen in mid-air, its surface embossed with the national flowers and plants of Commonwealth nations, while patinas of gold, turquoise and maroon evoke the sun, sea and earth of those countries.
The sculpture is one of three figurative works proposed for the memorial. A statue of Queen Elizabeth II and an additional statue of Prince Philip by Martin Jennings FRSS would greet visitors at Marlborough Gate, with a further sculpture by Karen Newman MRSS planned for the Birdcage Walk entrance.
The memorial would feature a family of gardens through the park with meandering paths and a new translucent, glass unity bridge, inspired by the late Queen's wedding tiara and replacing the current Blue Bridge, according to plans. The new bridge is likely to be called the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.
Gardens are important for a number of reasons, in terms of historical perspective.
In a separate development, the Queen Elizabeth II Garden, located in Regent's Park, is a two-acre site built on a former horticultural nursery. The garden will officially be ready to welcome public visitors from April 27th.
The garden was designed with biodiversity in mind, featuring native hedgerows, wildflower meadows and trees to symbolise the monarch's strength. It is located behind the Broad Walk Espresso Bar, just metres away from the Avenue Gardens, and will feature four new entrances.
The memorial's location in St James's Park carries its own significance: St James's Park sits close to Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Princess Anne officially opened a memorial garden celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's life, referring to the Regent's Park garden, not the St James's Park memorial.
The memorial serves as a contemporary extension of the historic landscape, with the overall design extending John Nash's 1820s picturesque landscape into a contemporary commemorative setting.
Several unknowns persist regarding the project. Details about the exact design and features of the bust of the Queen at the Birdcage Walk entrance remain unknown. The total estimated cost and funding source for the national memorial project have not been disclosed. Additionally, how public access and visitor management will be handled for the memorial gardens, especially during peak times, remains unclear.