Design sought for area within St James’s Park in which visitors can “reflect on an extraordinary life.”
The Government has opened a competition to find a design for a new permanent memorial to The Late Queen.
Architect-led multidisciplinary teams are being asked to first submit their experience, before a selected shortlist will be asked to create concept masterplans for the site within St James’s Park, London.
A budget of between £23m and 46m has been allocated for the eventual winning design, which will be selected by a committee.
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, chaired by The Late Queen’s former Private Secretary, Lord Janvrin, is working with competition specialists at Malcolm Reading Consultants to identify the winning team.
The first stage of the two-stage competition opens today, 12 December 2024. The shortlist is expected to be announced in spring 2025 and the winner in early summer 2025.
The final design will be announced to coincide with what would have been Her Late Majesty’s 100th birthday year in 2026, following approval from the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King.
Lord Janvrin 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.
“The memorial must be – simply – a beautiful place, somewhere to visit with family and friends, to enjoy and to reflect on an extraordinary life.”
The site in question includes the area of the Grade I listed Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, and the land surrounding the pathway down to the lake including the Blue Bridge and the land either side and across to Birdcage Walk.
A standalone monument including a figurative representation of the late Queen at the Marlborough Gate entrance is expected within the design.
Post-competition, an artist or sculptor for the figurative element will be appointed by the winning lead designer.
