Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has honored the memory of the late Queen as the second anniversary of her demise approaches, asserting that she will ‘always be remembered’.
The nation’s longest-serving monarch passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
Elizabeth II, whose reign encompassed seven decades, devoted her life to her royal responsibilities.
The anniversary of her death, coinciding with the King’s ascension to the throne, will be observed on Sunday.
Sir Keir remarked that the upcoming national memorial in her memory, to be situated in St James’s Park in London’s heart, will offer ‘everyone a space to pay tribute to the late Queen and engage with our treasured shared history’.
The location, which received approval from both King Charles and the Prime Minister, was selected for its proximity to the ceremonial thoroughfare of The Mall and Buckingham Palace, alongside its historical and constitutional significance. It also bears a poignant personal connection to the late Queen, with the nearby statues of her cherished parents.
The bronze memorials honoring King George VI, who passed away at the young age of 56 in 1952, and the Queen Mother, who died at 101 during the Golden Jubilee year of 2002, are located just a short distance along The Mall.
Sir Keir stated: ‘Queen Elizabeth II’s lasting legacy of commitment and service to our nation will never fade from memory.
‘The national memorial will be positioned in St James’s Park, located right at the center of the capital, providing everyone with a place to honor the late Queen and connect with the shared history we hold dear.’
The Queen traversed The Mall in horse-drawn carriages and state vehicles, witnessed by immense crowds numerous times over the years, making the journey for jubilations, official visits, her coronation, and for celebrations of birthdays, royal weddings, and funerals.
Her former private secretary, Lord Janvrin, who chairs the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, commented: ‘The Mall and St James’s Park, central to our ceremonial heart, offers a location closely connected with so many significant moments in the late Queen’s life.
‘It is an appropriate site for the national memorial in her honor, allowing us to remember and celebrate her remarkable contributions throughout her extensive reign.’
Architects, artists, and designers will be invited to propose designs later this year, adhering to the objective of creating a memorial that will serve as a space for reflection and community engagement, and will be suitably grand to correspond with the late Queen’s significant impact.
The memorial will be situated just a few hundred meters from the Palace, within St James’s Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, on the east side of the path leading to the lake near the park’s Blue Bridge.
This pathway also serves as a small segment of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk—a seven-mile trail through the capital dedicated to the princess’s memory.
The aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic car accident in 1997 presented significant challenges for the contemporary monarchy.
The Queen was seen as detached from the emotions of the mourners, with the public puzzled by her delay in addressing the tragedy while she was at Balmoral with Princes William and Harry.
However, on the eve of the funeral, the Queen reached out to the nation, stating that everyone had been coping in various ways, and ‘What I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I speak from the heart.’
Baroness Amos, a member of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee and former Lord President of the Council, reflected on the Queen’s global leadership over the years, highlighting her ability to connect with people and unite communities.
‘I admired her resilience and steadfastness, her faith in the people of Britain and the Commonwealth, her quiet diplomacy, her subtle exercise of power, and her common-sense approach,’ she remarked.
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee is the independent organization responsible for reviewing and recommending proposals to both the King and the Prime Minister.
The funding for the memorial will come from public resources, but the UK Government will also provide financial support for memorial initiatives in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The final design unveiling is expected to align with what would have been the Queen’s 100th birthday in 2026.
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