Plans to build a national memorial honouring Elizabeth II in central London have been approved by local councillors, clearing the way for construction in St James's Park.
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The monument will be installed at Marlborough Gate, an entrance to the park close to Buckingham Palace. It will feature a statue of the late monarch, who died in 2022 after a 70-year reign, alongside a companion statue of her husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021.
The proposal, submitted by the Cabinet Office, received unanimous backing from a planning sub-committee of Westminster City Council.
Changes to park structures
To accommodate the main statue, the Grade II-listed Marlborough Gate will be dismantled and reconstructed further south in a modified form.
The project also includes replacing the park’s Blue Bridge, which crosses the lake. The new structure will be wider and designed to resemble a tiara, a reference to royal symbolism. It has been designed by Foster + Partners, the practice behind the Millennium Bridge.
Additional features will include a memorial pathway running through landscaped gardens representing both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. These gardens will be designed by landscape architect Michel Desvigne.
A bronze wind sculpture dedicated to the Commonwealth will also be installed. The artwork, created by Yinka Shonibare, will incorporate plants and flowers representing each of the Commonwealth’s 56 member states.
Elsewhere in the park, a bust of Queen Elizabeth II will be placed at the Birdcage Walk entrance.
Additional features for visitors
The development plan includes a “discovery trail” aimed at children, featuring storytelling elements designed to help younger visitors learn about the Queen’s life and legacy.
Some existing park features will be relocated as part of the redesign. The Grade II-listed drinking fountain known as “The Boy” will be moved to the western side of the park, near the children’s playground.
Concerns raised by residents
Not everyone supported the proposal during the planning process. Representatives of the Queen Anne’s Gate Residents’ Association warned the memorial could significantly alter the character of the historic park.
Cathy Jones, speaking on behalf of the group, told councillors the development would “fundamentally change” the green space and divide it into separate zones.
While she said residents supported the idea of a national memorial to the Queen, she argued the scale and location of the project could harm the park environment.
A report prepared for Westminster City Council acknowledged that the scheme would lead to the loss of some trees and alterations to listed structures within the park.
However, the council concluded that the public benefits of establishing a national memorial to the late monarch would outweigh the potential harm to the historic landscape.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 10 April 2026
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