St James’s Park named as site for national memorial to late Queen Elizabeth

A national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth will be erected in a central London park, the British government announced on Saturday, at a site which it said had historical significance and a close personal connection to the record-breaking monarch.

Elizabeth II died at her Scottish castle on Sept. 8, 2022 after more than seven decades on the throne. She was the nation’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, and her death provoked days of mourning and poignant tributes from across the country and the world.

The government said the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial would be created in a site in St James’s Park, adjacent to the famous Mall boulevard and on land running down to the park lake.

The location, selected by a memorial committee, was chosen because of its proximity to Buckingham Palace, the headquarters of the Commonwealth, the international body she played a major role in establishing, and to statues of her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

“Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring legacy of service and devotion to our country will never be forgotten,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

The government said the memorial was intended not just to be a fitting monument on a scale to match the queen’s contribution to national life, but also a space for contemplation and community.

“The Mall and St James’s Park at the ceremonial heart of our capital provides a location closely identified with so many events of the late Queen’s life,” said Robin Janvrin, a former private secretary to the late monarch and chair of the memorial committee.

“It is a fitting site for the national memorial in her honour to remember and celebrate her extraordinary contribution to our lives throughout her long reign.”

The government said architects, artists and designers would be invited to submit proposals for the design of the memorial site later this year.