Over two years since the nation bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, plans are afoot for a new statue to commemorate her remarkable and lasting legacy. The committee spearheading the initiative has declared that “nothing is off the table” in their quest to find the perfect representation of her life.
With a substantial £46 million budget at their disposal, the group responsible for the forthcoming monument, set to grace St. James’ Park, hinted that it “could include digital technology.”
Baroness Amos, a member of the memorial committee and former leader of the House of Lords, shared with The Times: “We do not want to be prescriptive about this.”
READ NEXT: 13 new laws coming to UK in 2025 from TV adverts to passports and childcare
Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here
“There are a set of guidelines and principles that we have set out. And we are then looking to those artists, those designers, to come up with the best ideas.”, reports the Mirror.
“We want a memorial that is beautiful, that speaks to that legacy, but is also fit for the future,” she further commented.
Her Majesty reigned for an unprecedented 70 years, dutifully serving her country right up until her passing on September 8, 2022. The Queen died peacefully at age 96 at her Scottish home in Balmoral.
Efforts are in full swing to honour the memory of the late Queen, with a committee headed by her former private secretary, Lord Robin Janvrin, tirelessly working for the past 18 months. Their mission is to celebrate her monumental contribution to Britain’s story.
As part of their mission to find the most fitting tribute, committee members have been engaging with communities across the UK, seeking public input on commemorative ideas. “Nothing is off the table,” declared Alex Holmes, who serves on the committee and is also the deputy chief executive of The Diana Award—named after the late Princess of Wales.
“As a committee we are looking into how digital has revolutionised some of the [U.K.’s] attractions, and whether that’s AI or AR [augmented reality] – [we’re] really fascinated by that,” he noted. While their final proposal will be subject to government discussions, plans will also incorporate feedback from King Charles and senior royals before proceeding.
Historian and committee member Anna Keay shared, “I think it’s unlikely to end up being a sort of metal spike.”
She further remarked on the monarch’s design preferences: “But equally, I think the King’s got much broader taste in terms of design than he’s often given credit for.”
The unveiling of the tribute is scheduled for April 21, 2026, aligning with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s centenary celebration.
“We’re really thinking about what’s going to best do justice to the subject matter, to the age, to the contribution that she made,” Keay explained, emphasising the committee’s desire to “come up with something that’s really going to live up to the stature of the person that we’re celebrating.”
Design teams eager to take on this prestigious project have until 20th January to put forward their visions. The brief is clear: the winning design must “tell the story” of the late Queen’s extensive reign through a blend of design, landscaping and placemaking.
It’s essential that the final piece harmonises with the “very historic landscape” and remains “appropriate for the site”.