Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Statue Will Show Her Standing, Not on Horseback

The memorial committee has revealed new details about the national monument planned for St James's Park

The national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II is taking shape, and one key detail has changed: the late Queen will be depicted standing rather than riding a horse.

The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Committee and Cabinet Office announced the update this week, explaining that earlier illustrations showing the monarch on horseback were meant only to demonstrate the scale and location of the monument, not the final design.

Following a Royal Tradition

Sculptor Martin Jennings, who is creating the main statue that will stand beside The Mall near Marlborough Gate, explained his reasoning for the standing pose.

"After careful research and thought, my design for the Queen's monument will emphasise her role as head of state and proudly follows a sculptural tradition that shows kings and queens from the House of Windsor in a standing position," Jennings said.

The decision places the late Queen's memorial in keeping with nearby statues of her parents. The memorials to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, located not far from the new monument's site, both show them standing and wearing formal robes.

The Full Memorial Design

The monument will be far more than a single statue. Designed by Lord Norman Foster and his team at Foster + Partners, the memorial in St James's Park will include:

• The main statue of Queen Elizabeth II near Marlborough Gate beside The Mall
• A statue of Prince Philip nearby
• A bridge with a reinforced glass balustrade designed to evoke a tiara, crossing the park's lake
• Commemorative gardens
• A second sculpture of the Queen at another park entrance

A Sculptor with Royal Experience

The committee also announced that sculptor Karen Newman will create the second, smaller sculpture of the late Queen. Newman brings an unusual background to the commission—she once worked at Madame Tussauds creating waxwork likenesses, including one of Prince Philip.

Her portfolio includes sculptures of actor Charles Dance, musician Roger Daltrey, and Second World War heroines Noor Inayat Khan and Violette Szabo.

"She was an iconic and unifying figure in our national story," Newman said of the late Queen. "I am very much looking forward to portraying the strong and complex personality of our late Queen."

Lord Foster praised Newman's selection, saying her "talent and sensitivity will bring a profound sense of dignity to the work."

When Will We See the Final Design?

King Charles has been consulted throughout the planning process and kept informed of developments. The final design will be revealed publicly in April 2026, timed to coincide with the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth.

The memorial's budget stands between £23 million and £46 million.

Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022 after 70 years on the throne—the longest reign in British history.