Renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings has been chosen to create the statue of Queen Elizabeth II that will form the centrepiece of the UK’s national memorial in St James’s Park.
The memorial will stand at Marlborough Gate on The Mall, an area deeply tied to royal history. Jennings will collaborate with leading architecture firm Foster + Partners to shape the final design, which will be presented to King Charles III and the Prime Minister next year.
Many people in Britain will already know Jennings’ work. His pieces include the Queen Mother’s bust in St Paul’s Cathedral, the first coin portrait of King Charles III, as well as public statues of poet Philip Larkin, nurse and pioneer Mary Seacole, and the ‘Women of Steel’ in Sheffield.
The task before him now is a profound one: to create a sculpture that honours the UK’s longest-reigning monarch and becomes a lasting landmark for generations.
Committee Chair Robin Janvrin said:
“On behalf of the Committee I am delighted that we have selected Martin Jennings to create the Queen Elizabeth sculpture. We felt he had a very sensitive understanding of the significance of this unique commission and we were impressed by Martin’s previous work and his ability to capture the essence of character in public works of art.
We look forward to working with Martin and the Foster + Partners team in the months ahead”.
Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster, said:
“I am pleased to welcome Martin Jennings to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial team. His work has a sensitivity and humanity that align well with the fundamental spirit of the project, and I look forward to working together with Martin and the rest of the team in the coming months”.
Martin Jennings said:
“I am elated to have been invited to make the sculpture of Queen Elizabeth. She was loved and admired across the globe for her steadfast devotion to duty, borne with grace, decency and restraint.
The monument must not only reflect the grandeur of its setting but be an object of delight to its countless visitors in years to come. I look forward to working with Foster + Partners and the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee so that we can achieve this together”.
The decision to locate the memorial in St James’s Park was made earlier this year, chosen both for its royal heritage and its personal significance to Queen Elizabeth herself.
With Jennings now on board, the memorial team continues its work to shape a tribute that will celebrate the Queen’s life, reign, and enduring connection with the public. Photo by Sir Hannibal, Wikimedia commons.