The sculpture of Elizabeth II will be open to the public in 2026 to mark what would have been her centenary year – a committee headed up by her former private secretary has worked on the piece
A monument to honour the life and legacy of the late Queen will be finally unveiled in St James’s Park in London, it can be revealed.
The sculpture of Elizabeth II will be open to the public in 2026 to mark what would have been her centenary year. Plans for a permanent memorial as well as a national legacy programme in her honour were created in the wake of her passing on September 8, 2022
A special committee headed up by Lord Robin Janvrin, the late Queen’s former private secretary appointed as chairman, has worked with the UK Government and the Royal Household to create the historic monument.
An announcement of the sculpture and nature of the historic piece will be announced this weekend to coincide with the second anniversary of the Queen’s death, it is understood.
At the time the committee was formed last year, Lord Janvrin said: “It is an honour to be asked to chair the Queen Elizabeth memorial committee. It will be a unique challenge to try to capture for future generations Her Late Majesty’s extraordinary contribution to our national life throughout her very long reign.”
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St. James’s Park is famous for hosting a number of royal ceremonies from coronations and jubilees to Trooping the Colour and Changing the Guard. The park is also host to some of the most revered royal and military memorials in the country.
Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial will sit close to the colossal statue of Queen Victoria, which sits outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall.
This was commissioned and unveiled by her grandson, King George V, in 1911. Another Queen is commemorated along The Mall, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother which was unveiled in 2009.
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She is honoured with a statue that stands next to one of her husband, King George VI, unveiled to the public by Elizabeth II in 1955. Elizabeth II became Britain’s record breaking monarch in 2022 after serving 70 years on the throne.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said last year: “Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning monarch and greatest public servant” adding that the committee would “begin the important work of designing a fitting tribute to her legacy of service to our nation and the Commonwealth.”
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We are not going to comment on speculation.”