The UK government has selected sculptor Martin Jennings to create a statue of Queen Elizabeth II for St James’s Park in London, as part of a larger memorial designed by Norman Foster's architecture firm. The memorial will also include a figurative sculpture of the Queen alongside Prince Philip at Birdcage Walk and a Prince Philip gate. Jennings, known for his bust of the Queen Mother and his coin effigy of King Charles III, describes the project as a work in progress, with a provisional construction budget of £23m–£46m. Final design details are expected next year.
This commission matters because it represents a major public memorial to a historic monarch, funded by taxpayers and placed in a highly sensitive location in central London. Jennings's selection highlights the continued importance of traditional figurative sculpture in state commemoration, while the involvement of Foster + Partners signals a blend of architecture and public art. The project also underscores the ongoing process of shaping Queen Elizabeth II's legacy in the public realm.