National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II Unveiled on Centenary
A significant national memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II has been officially unveiled today, coinciding with what would have been the late monarch's 100th birthday. The centerpiece of this commemorative installation is a striking bronze statue depicting Her Majesty as a young woman during the early years of her historic reign.
Artistic Inspiration and Design Details
The memorial statue, designed by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings, draws direct inspiration from the celebrated 1955 portrait of Elizabeth II created by Italian artist Pietro Annigoni. This Renaissance-style painting was completed when the Queen was just 28 years old, having sat for Annigoni at Buckingham Palace in late 1954. The statue captures this youthful representation of the monarch, showing her draped in her weighty Garter robes, composed and gazing thoughtfully into the distance.
Standing at an impressive 7.3 meters in total height, the statue features the Queen herself at three meters tall, positioned atop a substantial 4.3-meter plinth. This commanding figure will overlook The Mall from its permanent location within the newly created civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place at Marlborough Gate, situated on the edge of the park.
Companion Statue of Prince Philip
In a poignant tribute to the royal partnership, a smaller companion statue of Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, will be positioned approximately 20 meters behind the Queen's statue. This arrangement reflects the Duke's customary position during public engagements, standing "a few paces behind" his wife of more than seven decades.
The statue of Prince Philip measures 3.8 meters in total height, with a 2.3-meter figure standing on a 1.5-meter plinth. He is depicted at a similar age to the Queen in her statue, wearing his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform from his naval service, with both arms characteristically positioned behind his back.
Royal Family Preview and Committee Insights
The King, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family will have the opportunity to view detailed maquettes of the planned statues along with a scale model of the complete memorial during their visit to the British Museum on Tuesday. These previews form part of the commemorative events marking the Queen's centenary.
Lord Janvrin, former private secretary to the Queen and chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, explained the thoughtful design decisions: "We thought it was very important that the statue of the Queen, our head of state, was on the ceremonial route in her own right. She will be depicted standing, on her own. But Prince Philip was such an important part – they worked as a team – of the realm that we've decided that he should be a few paces behind the Queen – a position he was accustomed to."
Lord Janvrin further noted that Prince Philip's statue will be looking upward toward his wife, as she stands on a slightly higher pedestal. He described the Annigoni portrait that inspired the main statue as a "lovely, iconic image of the young Queen," adding that "we think probably most people would like to be remembered when they were young."
Additional Memorial Elements
The comprehensive memorial project includes several additional components beyond the primary statues. At the Birdcage Walk end of the park, a separate bust of the Queen in her later years will be installed. This representation, crafted by artist Karen Newman, will depict the monarch during her fifties or sixties, providing a complementary perspective to the youthful main statue.
The memorial initiative encompasses three distinct projects honoring Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside the physical statues, a new charitable organization called The Queen Elizabeth Trust has been established, along with an innovative Digital Memorial launched simultaneously.
Digital Memorial and Living Archive
The Digital Memorial represents an ambitious effort to create a "living archive" composed of public memories and recollections of the Queen. This digital platform will digitize the Court Circular – the official daily record of royal engagements – and bring it to life by mapping key events from the Queen's remarkable reign.
Members of the public are encouraged to contribute their personal memories through the dedicated website Queenelizabeth.com. This domain was previously owned by luxury cruise line Cunard for the Queen Elizabeth ship but was generously donated to the memorial project following a specific request.
Joe Garner, a member of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee who specialized in the digital memorial component, expressed enthusiasm about the project's potential: "We could create the most phenomenal archive." He suggested the platform could eventually expand to include cinefilm and photographs contributed by the public, with plans to map memories from around the globe.
The digital memorial already features recorded recollections from notable figures including Olympic diver Tom Daley and artist Dame Tracey Emin. Daley shares a particularly memorable anecdote about being reprimanded for sitting on the Queen's throne during a visit, recalling: "I remember when the Queen came into the room, she always had this incredible presence. I did go and sit on her throne, and I did get told off for that, because at 14 years old, I didn't realize that you're not meant to sit on the reigning monarch's throne."
Architectural Elements and Completion Timeline
Luis Matania, senior partner at Foster + Partners who has led the built memorial project, described additional architectural elements including a steel and glass "tiara" bridge that incorporates the latest technologies. "This is an opportunity to actually... use the latest technologies we have and do something structurally that still retains the principle of something very delicate, almost a boardwalk that crosses the water, that does not interrupt that beautiful view," he explained.
The complete memorial is expected to be finished and fully installed by 2028, providing a lasting tribute to Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust Initiative
The newly established Queen Elizabeth Trust operates as an independent grant-making charity that will work with communities across the United Kingdom to transform community spaces and bring local people together across generations. This initiative was inspired by the late Queen's Christmas broadcasts, in which she frequently emphasized the importance of neighbors and local communities.
Sir Damon Buffini, chairman of the new trust, expressed optimism about its potential impact: "I hoped millions of people would benefit from its future work on the regeneration and support of spaces currently not fit for purpose." The trust aims to commence work on its first community project by the end of this year, continuing the Queen's legacy of service and community building.
