Finalists revealed in proposed major memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth
A final shortlist of five designs has been revealed for a proposed national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in central London.
The memorial, to be built in St James’s Park, will commemorate the life of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who died in September 2022.
Illustrations of the proposed designs have been put online by the British government, with the public invited to have their say about on the final memorial.
Three of the proposed designs feature the late Queen riding a horse, reflecting her lifelong passion for equestrianism.
One of the proposed designs uses an oak tree from Windsor Great Park to represent Queen Elizabeth’s strength and resilience.
You might like
Three of the designs pay tribute to the Queen’s love of horses. Photo: JLL Gibbons
Another design suggests building symbolic pathways and a pair of bridges over the lake in the park.
Other features put forward include incorporating recordings of the late Queen’s voice into a memorial and large sculptures of lilies surrounding a statue of the late monarch.
70 lily pads would mark each year of the Queen’s reign. Photo: Heatherwick Studio
Stay informed, daily
While the winning entry will be chosen later this year, there is no date set for when the finished memorial will be completed.
An oak tree from Windsor would signify the Queen’s strength. Photo: TSS FJA
It is estimated that the budget for construction of the memorial is as high as £46 million ($88 million) depending on the winning design.
The proposed memorial will be situated near statues of the late Queen’s parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
A bridge and paths would represent themes of the Queen’s life. Photo: WilkinsonEyre
There are also plans for other memorials around Britain, including public works and facilities including sports fields.
