Renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings has been chosen to design the official statue of Queen Elizabeth II for a new national memorial in London, a project that will honour the country’s longest-reigning monarch. Jennings, celebrated for his statues of cultural and historical figures such as George Orwell, Philip Larkin and Mary Seacole, said he was “absolutely thrilled” to have been invited to take on what he described as a “terrific commission.”
The memorial, to be known as Queen Elizabeth II Place, will be located at Marlborough Gate in St James’s Park, close to Buckingham Palace. It is expected to provide the public with a permanent site to commemorate the Queen, who died in 2022 after 70 years on the throne. The project will also include a new Prince Philip Gate at Birdcage Walk, gardens, meandering pathways, and a striking glass “unity bridge” designed by acclaimed architect Lord Norman Foster, best known for The Gherkin.
Speaking to Sky News, Jennings said he wanted the Queen’s statue to reflect her “dignity, grace, and constancy,” while also serving as “an object of delight for people.” He added: “I don’t want it to be too grave. It needs grandeur and panache to suit its site, but also an element of joy. She was so constant in her service that those qualities of restraint and dignity are very much at the forefront of my mind.”
While the exact design is yet to be finalised, Jennings suggested the statue will likely follow his usual process of being first sculpted in clay before being cast in bronze. However, he emphasised that at this stage he intends to “do a lot of listening” to stakeholders before making decisions about how to depict the late Queen, including which period of her life will be represented.
The memorial is expected to attract “considerable interest” from the Royal Family, Jennings said, with King Charles III particularly invested in ensuring his mother is represented appropriately. “I hope it will be something that both they and the public are proud of,” the sculptor remarked.
The project, which is scheduled to be unveiled in 2026 to mark what would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday year, has a provisional construction budget estimated between £23m and £46m excluding VAT. A dedicated committee will oversee the design process, ensuring that the final memorial reflects both the Queen’s extraordinary life and her enduring role in British history.
Jennings, 68, has previously created a bust of the Queen Mother housed in St Paul’s Cathedral and was commissioned to design the first crowned coinage portrait of King Charles. His reputation as one of the country’s leading sculptors was cemented through works such as the Women of Steel in Sheffield and the statue of George Orwell outside BBC Broadcasting House.
With its combination of architectural innovation and artistic vision, Queen Elizabeth II Place is expected to become a landmark of national remembrance. The memorial will not only celebrate the Queen’s remarkable reign but also provide a lasting space of reflection for generations to come.
