Foster + Partners Unveils Final Design for Queen Elizabeth II Memorial in London's St James's Park

Foster + Partners has unveiled the final design for a memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II, located in St James's Park, London, with approval from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Westminster City Council. Developed with input from King Charles III and the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, the project includes statues, a glass bridge, and landscaped gardens. A bridge featuring cast-glass balustrades will cross a lake in the Grade I-listed park, inspired by Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara worn during her wedding. Sculptor Martin Jennings created a statue of Queen Elizabeth II from her early reign for Marlborough Gate, alongside a statue of Prince Philip. Karen Newman designed a later-life bust of the Queen, while Yinka Shonibare contributed an abstract sculpture celebrating the Commonwealth. Norman Foster designed a compass pointing to Commonwealth nations, and landscape architect Michel Desvigne Paysagiste worked on the gardens. Foster emphasized the memorial's tranquil and reflective nature, aimed at embodying the shared values upheld during the Queen's 70-year reign, which concluded with her passing in 2022. The British studio was chosen for this project last year.