Renowned sculptor Martin Jennings has been chosen to create a statue of Queen Elizabeth II for a new national memorial in London, expressing his excitement about crafting what he hopes will be an "object of delight for people." Jennings, who has previously created sculptures of the Queen Mother and King Charles III, told reporters he was "absolutely thrilled" when he received the call inviting him to join the prestigious project.
"I mean, I was absolutely thrilled," Jennings said. "It's a terrific commission to be asked to do and to be quite honest, I can't quite remember what the rest of the phone call was all about - I was so delighted to have been appointed." The sculptor will now begin work on creating the statue of the late Queen for the planned national memorial in London, which will be called Queen Elizabeth II Place.
The memorial will provide the public with a permanent space to commemorate Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died in 2022. While the specific design for the statue has not yet been finalized, Jennings shared his vision for the piece, emphasizing that he would like it to convey a sense of "stillness" that reflects the "dignity" and "grace" of her remarkable reign.
"I would like it to be an object of delight for people," Jennings explained. "I don't want it to be too grave. It needs to have panache, it needs to have grandeur to suit its site, it needs to have a kind of delight to it. But she was so constant that the dignity, the restraint and the grace that we associate with her are things that at the moment are at the forefront of my mind."
The memorial project has been designed by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, famous for creating London's distinctive Gherkin building. The memorial will be located at Marlborough Gate in St James's Park, positioned close to Buckingham Palace. The comprehensive design will also include a new Prince Philip Gate on the opposite side of the park on Birdcage Walk, featuring a statue of Prince Philip, along with a "family of gardens," winding pathways, and a new translucent glass unity bridge.
Jennings anticipates significant involvement from the Royal Family throughout the design process, noting that King Charles III is "keen that his mother should be represented appropriately." The sculptor expressed his hope that the final result will be "something that both they and the general public are proud of." A panel of committee members will collaborate with the design team on the final concept, which is expected to be revealed in 2026 - marking what would have been the late Queen's 100th birthday year.
At this early stage of the project, Jennings plans to "do a lot of listening" when it comes to developing the design. Important decisions, including which stage of the Queen's life the statue will depict, have not yet been made. The sculptor indicated that, following his established artistic process, the original version of the statue will likely be created in clay before being cast in bronze, though he emphasized that he doesn't want to commit to specific details at this preliminary stage.
The 68-year-old Jennings brings impressive credentials to this historic commission. His previous royal works include a bust of the Queen Mother, which is housed in St Paul's Cathedral, and the first crowned coinage portrait of King Charles III. His broader portfolio includes notable public sculptures such as the statue of George Orwell outside BBC Broadcasting House, Philip Larkin in Hull, Mary Seacole at London's St Thomas' Hospital, and the Women Of Steel memorial in Sheffield.
The Queen Elizabeth II memorial project represents a significant investment in honoring the late monarch's legacy, with a provisional construction budget ranging between $29 million and $58 million, excluding taxes. This substantial financial commitment reflects the importance of creating a fitting tribute to a monarch who served for over 70 years and left an indelible mark on British history and the Commonwealth.
