King Charles III Lauds 'Fantastic' Design for Queen Elizabeth II Memorial
On what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday, King Charles III praised the final design for the national memorial to his mother as "fantastic." The King and Queen Camilla viewed a scale model of the tribute at the British Museum on Tuesday, alongside maquettes of the late monarch and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Architectural Inspiration from Royal Heritage
King Charles told architect Lord Foster: "It's a wonderful idea for the bridge to be based on the Russian fringe tiara, the one that my mama wore at her wedding." He described the memorial, set for St James's Park in central London, as "fantastic" and commended the plan to add "subtle lighting" at night to the new Queen Elizabeth Bridge, which will replace the current Blue Bridge.
Queen Camilla also remarked on the glass and steel bridge, inspired by the Queen's wedding tiara, also known as the Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, saying: "I love that bridge. It's just lovely. It has a lovely twinkle." She expressed surprise when informed by Lord Foster that the bridge will eventually be lifted into place overnight to avoid disturbing park use, calling the plan "extraordinary."
Statues Capturing Youthful Legacy
The King was shown a likeness of his mother in the form of a maquette depicting Elizabeth II as a young woman in her 20s, wearing her Order of the Garter robes. Sculptor Martin Jennings explained that the bronze statue, which will stand seven metres tall on its plinth, will be positioned with the Queen's head "slightly turned to catch the evening light." Charles agreed, noting it showed the Queen in the early years of her reign.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at the event, declared it was how the late Queen would like to be remembered in her younger days. "It's a lovely statue. It's how she would like to be remembered as a young woman," Sophie said, adding as she examined the maquette: "It's quite high." Jennings revealed it would match the height of the statue of George V outside Westminster Abbey.
Comprehensive Memorial Features
A maquette of Prince Philip, around the same age as the Queen's, shows the duke in his naval uniform with his hands behind his back. It prompted a chuckle from Charles when Jennings described Philip as a "tall, thin figure." Full-scale versions of these statues will form part of the permanent memorial in the park, close to Buckingham Palace, with the national tribute scheduled for completion in 2028.
The area will also incorporate a family of gardens with meandering paths, a Commonwealth Wind Sculpture by artist Yinka Shonibare, and a bust of the Queen in her 50s or 60s by sculptor Karen Newman on Birdcage Walk. This multifaceted design aims to honour Queen Elizabeth II's legacy through a blend of architectural innovation and artistic tribute, set in a central London location that reflects her lifelong connection to the capital.
