London Will Have a New Attraction. It's a Tribute to Elizabeth II
In the heart of London, right next to Buckingham Palace, a place commemorating Queen Elizabeth II will be created. Five visionary architectural teams are working on the concept of a monument that will not only commemorate Queen Elizabeth II, but also create a space for reflection, peace and – interestingly – social closeness. Because as it turns out, the tribute paid to the monarch, who built a community for 70 years, takes the form of... a bridge.
Since the Queen’s death in 2022, the UK has sought a form of befitting commemoration of her life and reign. Elizabeth II was a symbol of stability and strength, and the longest-reigning monarch in history. World-class designers Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, WilkinsonEyre, Tom Stuart-Smith and J&L Gibbons were invited to create the memorial.
Their task was to create a design that would be both a part of the landscape of London's St James's Park and a contemporary story about community.
Five concepts for commemorating Queen Elizabeth II have been presented on a dedicated website where the public can express their views.
British designers build a bridge for the QueenHeatherwick Studio – the creators of the famous sculpture “Tree of Trees”, created to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, present “Bridge of Togetherness” .
Queen Elizabeth II Monument in London - Heatherwick Studio proposal / press materialsThe centrepiece is to be a sculpture of Elizabeth II, covered in delicate, sculptural lilies. The concept was created with sculptor Halima Cassell and teams of engineers from Arup and Webb Yates. As the creators explain, their design is a “physical expression of the idea of unity that the Queen cherished throughout her life”.
Queen Elizabeth II Monument in London - Foster + Partners proposal / press materialsFoster + Partners, in collaboration with the outstanding French landscape architect Michel Desvigne and artist Yinka Shonibare, focus on the harmony of history and modernity.
Their project includes a stone path leading through the park to the Unity Bridge. A statue of the Queen would be placed on The Mall (the main avenue leading to Buckingham Palace), and the park itself would feature the Wind Sculpture, which would reflect the idea of cultural diversity. There is room here for both the Commonwealth of Nations and for the experience of shared contemplation.
Queen Elizabeth II Monument in London - WilkinsonEyre proposal / press materialsWilkinsonEyre, on the other hand, propose two interpenetrating bridges as the main elements of the whole undertaking. The project is co-created by artists Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, and the whole is to be a delicately integrated path of remembrance into the landscape. It is not so much a monumental sculpture, but rather a symbolic journey through seven decades of the Queen's service.
Queen Elizabeth II Monument in London - J&L Gibbons proposal / press materialsThe most poetic design is by J&L Gibbons. Their concept – supported by set designer Michael Levine and architecture studio William Matthews Associates – is based on the image of a bridge growing out of geology.
- The Queen was the pillar of the nation, so we created a bridge from a material that reflects the foundation – through soil, tree roots and water. A meandering stream of geology leading people through a fleeting choreography of bloom and colour under the tall canopies of trees – announce the creators.
Queen Elizabeth II Monument in London - proposal by Tom Stuart-Smith / press materialsUltimately, what will be done in St James's Park will be announced in April 2026. Regardless of which design wins, one thing is certain - it will be more than a monument. It will be a space where history, nature and man meet in the spirit of unity that Elizabeth II has symbolized for decades.
