Elizabeth II memorial must be 'beautiful, inclusive and sustainable'

By Hannah Furness

The national Queen Elizabeth II memorial should be "beautiful, inclusive and sustainable", the Government of the United Kingdom has said as it launches an open search to find a designer.

The memorial, intended to be announced in time for what would have been the late Queen's 100th birthday in 2026, is set to cost as much as £46 million (approx. $91.6 million), the Government said.

Lord Janvrin, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said the memorial "must be – simply – a beautiful place, somewhere to visit with family and friends, to enjoy and to reflect on an extraordinary life".

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On Thursday (overnight in Australia), the Government launched its search for a team to create a "design masterplan to honour the late Queen", inviting artists, architects and engineers to express their interest.

"The Queen Elizabeth memorial will be one of the most significant design projects in recent British history and will provide the nation with a permanent memorial to the UK's longest-serving monarch," it said.

It will be located in St James's Park close to Buckingham Palace. The brief, to be "beautiful, inclusive and sustainable", includes a new bridge over the lake, "opportunities for artistic interventions and enhanced landscaping", and a "standalone monument including a figurative representation of the late Queen" at the Marlborough Gate entrance.

Lord Janvrin, who served as the late Queen's private secretary, said: "The challenge at the second stage for the finalists will be to evoke memories of Queen Elizabeth II's outstanding contribution to national life and to tell the story of Her Majesty's long reign through an original masterplan that is sensitive to the unique setting.

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning monarch and Her Majesty dedicated her life to serving the people of the United Kingdom.

"This national memorial will provide a permanent tribute to the late Queen's legacy, offering space for reflection as well as celebration. We want the very best architects and designers to come forward with their ideas for how this historic project should look."

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The committee is working with Malcolm Reading Consultants to form a team of specialists, asking would-be members to submit a 12-page form expressing their interest online.

The first stage of the competition opens on Thursday and closes on January 20, upon which there will be a second ten-week stage to find a shortlist of five.

The shortlist will be announced in the Northern Hemisphere's spring of 2025, the winner in early summer 2025, and the final design in 2026, following approval from the British Prime Minister and the King.

Full details of the project and how to enter the competition are available here.

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