The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial, set to be one of the most significant design undertakings in recent British history, is inviting expressions of interest from leading artists, architects, engineers, and landscape architects worldwide.
This landmark project will honour the UK’s longest-serving monarch with a permanent national memorial located in St James’s Park in London.
Image ©Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 05/12/2018. London, United Kingdom. Queen visit Children’s Charity Coram.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth visits children’s charity Coram in London, Britain, December 5, 2018.
Picture by i-Images / Pool
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee has partnered with Malcolm Reading Consultants to spearhead this ambitious project. The Committee seeks inspired and dedicated creative teams to design a masterplan that celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life and legacy.
Lord Janvrin, chair of the Committee and the late Queen’s former Private Secretary, emphasised the importance of attracting top talent: ‘We want to attract the finest teams of architects, artists, landscape architects, engineers, and other specialists to work with us to create an outstanding design for the memorial site. The challenge…will be to evoke memories of Queen Elizabeth II’s outstanding contribution to national life and tell the story of Her Majesty’s long reign through an original masterplan that is sensitive to the unique setting.’
The Memorial will reflect the incredible reign of Elizabeth II. (© RCT)
The two-stage competition opens on 12 December 2024, with the initial stage closing at 14:00 on 20 January 2025. At this stage, teams are required to submit a twelve-page Expression of Interest through the competition website: Queen Elizabeth Memorial.
A Selection Panel will choose a shortlist of five teams to progress to the second stage, which includes a ten-week design phase.
The winning design will be announced in early summer 2025, with final approval by the Prime Minister and The King. The memorial will be unveiled in 2026, to coincide with what would have been Her late Majesty’s 100th birthday year.
The Memorial will be located in St James’s Park, by The Mall which is typically seen during carriage processions for Trooping and State Visits. (Royal Family).
Set against the backdrop of St James’s Park, the memorial will occupy a location steeped in history, adjacent to The Mall and Marlborough Gate. The design will include a new bridge over the park’s lake and enhanced landscaping around the Blue Bridge area. The masterplan will feature celebratory spaces and tranquil areas for reflection, embodying the memorial’s dual purpose of honouring and inspiring.
St James’s Park was chosen as the location because of it’s proximity to the ceremonial route of The Mall (where carriage processions for Trooping the Colour and State Visits take place) and how close it is to Buckingham Palace, the Commonwealth headquarters, and statues of Elizabeth II’s parents, George VI and the Queen Mother.
The project’s provisional construction budget of £23m-46m (excluding VAT) includes replacing the Blue Bridge, a vital public amenity. Designers are encouraged to balance ambition with value for money, aligning with the Committee’s vision.
Public engagement has been integral to shaping the memorial’s scope and competition brief. The Committee has engaged widely across the UK to ensure the final design resonates nationally. The winning team will work closely with the Committee to develop a public engagement strategy, ensuring the memorial reflects the collective aspirations of the nation.
The legacy of Elizabeth II, symbolised through this memorial, promises to stand as a testament to her unparalleled service to the nation.
