2 days ago
A New Memorial for Queen Elizabeth II Is Coming to London
A permanent memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II—Britain's longest-reigning monarch—is officially underway. This month, the British government unveiled the final shortlist of five proposed designs for the landmark monument, set to rise in St. James's Park, near Buckingham Palace in the heart of London.
The shortlisted proposals' designs include everything from a stone canopy of lilies by Heatherwick Studio to a cast of a Windsor oak tree by Tom Stuart-Smith, as each aims to translate the Queen's enduring legacy into lasting form. Renderings feature sculpted bridges, equestrian statues (in three of the designs), and immersive soundscapes. The teams in contention include Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, J&L Gibbons, Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, and WilkinsonEyre.
Earlier this month, the U.K. Cabinet Office, which supports the Prime Minister, opened the proposals up to public feedback, inviting citizens to review the concept illustrations online and weigh in on their favorites. In addition to public sentiment, the designs will be judged on criteria like placemaking, visitor experience, and value for money. The winning design team will be chosen by summer 2025 and announced in April 2026, close to what would have been Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday. A separate search for the sculptor who will work alongside the winner to create a sculptural tribute, is also underway and will conclude later this year. Below are the proposed designs from the five competing firms.
Foster + Partners' proposed concept gives a nod to famed British architect John Nash's romantic vision of St. James's Park. Their proposal features a path that winds through community gardens and a 'Unity Bridge" connecting Marlborough Gate, which has a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II, to Prince Philip Gate, where there is a sculpture of her husband. Along the path, there will be audio installations and inscriptions honoring the Queen's legacy. The U.K.-based firm, overseen by architect Norman Foster, will also bring in a contemporary art piece titled The Wind Sculpture, designed by artist Yinka Shonibare, that celebrates the Queen's love of flowers.
Heatherwick Studio's design pays tribute to the Queen's lifelong cause, which was the idea of togetherness. This will be brought to life through a memorial walk with 70 lily pads, symbolic of stepping stones that 'bear reflections from voices across the Commonwealth and Realms,' the proposal read. At the center of the bridge, the studio envisioned a figurative sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II, protected by a canopy of eight sculptural lilies framing her presence. 'Crafted from limestone, the design celebrates materials that age with dignity,' the proposal read. 'Like her legacy, it is quietly monumental.'
The proposed memorial designed by J&L Gibbons features a stone bridge composed of stone sourced from the four nations, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 'It will be crafted, timeless, and versatile,' the proposal read. 'An immersive landscape, enriching the heritage of the park, embracing resilience and holding narrative threads of an extraordinary life.' The bridge's minimalist design highlights wildlife and integrates seamlessly with its surrounding environment.
Tom Stuart-Smith's proposed memorial honors Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy through personal objects. Central to the tribute is the bronze cast of an oak tree from Windsor Great Park, standing on a plinth in the park's lake. Beyond that, a stone bridge will connect to a memorial path made from stones sourced from across Britain. The area will also feature other bronze casts of objects from the Queen's life.
WilkinsonEyre's memorial proposal 'draws inspiration from the many threads of her remarkable life and enduring legacy,' the proposal read. This will be demonstrated by a pair of bridges that span the lake, framing views of the park, royal palaces, and London skyline. Just beyond, a thread of pathways and landscapes create a contemplative journey that invites visitors to reflect on the Queen's seven decades of service.
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