The UK government has unveiled five shortlisted design concepts for the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial in London’s St James’s Park. The proposals mark a key stage in developing a national tribute to the late monarch. Public feedback on the designs will be gathered until 19 May 2025.
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee will then announce the winning design team in early summer 2025. The final design is expected to be unveiled in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. Lord Janvrin, the late Queen’s former Private Secretary, chairs the Memorial Committee.
He emphasized public engagement as a core part of the selection process. The memorial site along The Mall holds deep ceremonial and personal resonance. The shortlist features five multidisciplinary teams led by prominent architectural and design practices.
Each team collaborated with artists, engineers, and landscape architects to propose distinct visions for the memorial. Foster + Partners’ proposal presents a unified landscape reflecting the Queen’s role in bringing people together. It introduces a sequence of Royal gardens connected by a tessellated natural stone path.
A figurative sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip marks the relocated gates at Birdcage Walk.
Public views on memorial designs
Heatherwick Studio’s design centers on the theme of togetherness.
It features a new gathering space within St. James’s Park as part of a commemorative walk. The path is marked by 70 lily pad-shaped stepping stones, each inscribed with reflections from voices across the Commonwealth and Realms.
J&L Gibbons’ proposal introduces a stone bridge that crosses over soil, roots, and water, forming an immersive landscape. The structure follows a meandering path beneath the tree canopy, with seasonal planting contributing to a dynamic visual experience. Tom Stuart-Smith’s design is conceived as a landscape of storytelling, structured around objects connected to Queen Elizabeth II’s life and era.
A cast of an oak tree from Windsor Great Park stands on a plinth within the lake, serving as a focal point. WilkinsonEyre’s design draws inspiration from key aspects of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy. Pathways and landscapes integrated into the natural environment of St.
James’s Park represent themes such as Reign, Faith, Values, Nature, and Family. The intent is to create a memorial that resonates deeply with people from all backgrounds, celebrating the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. Public feedback will shape the final selection, with the winning design expected to become a significant landmark honoring Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
