On 25 February, the UK Government announced the shortlisted design teams for the National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II.
The shortlisted design teams include:
- Foster + Partners with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste
- Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates and ARUP
- J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop and Arup
- Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte) and Structure Workshop
- WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One and Hilson Moran.
The finalists were selected following the initial phase of a two-stage open competition.
Designers were asked to submit examples of past projects relevant to the vision for the memorial outlined by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, along with details of the unique expertise of their multidisciplinary teams. The competition attracted outstanding creative talent from both the UK and around the world. The shortlisted teams will present their design concepts later in the spring.
The winning design team will be announced in summer 2025 after the Selection Panel evaluates the concepts submitted by the five shortlisted teams.
Designers have been tasked with creating a memorial masterplan that honors Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable life of service while providing a space for reflection and contemplation. The designs will also be assessed based on broader criteria, including cost-effectiveness, placemaking, and visitor experience.
Once the competition concludes, the selected team, in consultation with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, will appoint an artist or sculptor to create a figurative representation of Her Late Majesty. This appointment will be announced in summer 2025.
The new national Queen Elizabeth II Memorial will be located in St James’s Park, near The Mall at Marlborough Gate, extending to the surrounding pathway leading to the lake, including the Blue Bridge. This site was chosen for its proximity to the ceremonial route of The Mall, its historical and constitutional significance, and its personal connection to Queen Elizabeth.
The final design will be officially revealed in April 2026, coinciding with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday year.
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Press release from UK Government
Cover photo: Buckingham Palace as seen from across St James' Park, looking to the west, ©Ozeye
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