The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee has revealed the shortlisted designs for the upcoming national memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II. The proposed “new national landmark” is slated for construction in St. James’s Park, at the heart of London. Prince William recently met with the committee head at Kensington Palace, possibly getting a glimpse of the design concepts.
The legacy of Queen Elizabeth will be commemorated with a national memorial in the U.K., with the unveiling of the shortlisted options. On May 7, the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee and the Cabinet Office introduced five potential design concepts for public review in an online exhibition. This marks a significant step towards creating a lasting tribute to the late Queen, who reigned for a record 70 years until her passing in September 2022 at the age of 96.
Feedback on the designs is open to the public until Monday, May 19, and will be considered by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, led by her former private secretary, Lord Robin Janvrin. The committee aims to select the winning design early this summer, with the final design expected to be revealed in 2026, coinciding with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s centennial year.
The future memorial, set in St. James’s Park, will offer publicly accessible green spaces, as emphasized in all the shortlisted choices. The designs aim to create an emotionally resonant place for reflection, in harmony with the historic surroundings of Grade I listed St James’s Park, and will serve as a prominent national landmark celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s unique qualities and values.
The designs will be evaluated not only based on design brief requirements but also on criteria such as value for money, placemaking, and visitor experience. Each proposal incorporates elements like paths, bridges, and walkways, with one featuring a flower-shaped canopy, a nod to Queen Elizabeth’s longstanding patronage of the Royal Horticultural Society and her regular attendance at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.
In the coming months, the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee will make its decision on the winning design, with the chosen concept expected to be unveiled in 2026, honoring the remarkable life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The design of ign is a collaborative effort by Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates, and Arup. Meanwhile, Foster + Partners worked with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop, and Arup. Other contributors include Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte) and Structure Workshop, and WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One, and Hilson Moran. The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial design concept, created by WilkinsonEyre alongside other design firms, will feature a “figurative representation” of the late Queen. The competition for the sculptor to collaborate on this project will conclude later this year.
Prince William recently met with Lord Janvrin, Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, as reported in The Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements. Janvrin, who served as the Queen’s private secretary from 1999 to 2007, emphasized the importance of public feedback in shaping the memorial design. He highlighted the significance of capturing Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy for future generations and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with top architects, artists, and designers on this landmark project.
