A towering cardboard cutout of the late Queen Elizabeth appeared in St. James's Park in London, baffling passersby who initially mistook it for an art installation. The temporary replica is a preview of a 10-foot bronze statue scheduled to be unveiled in 2028.
Memorial Plans
The permanent sculpture will depict the Queen in the early years of her 70-year reign, adorned in the robes of the Order of the Garter. It is inspired by a 1955 portrait by Pietro Annigoni. The statue, designed by Martin Jennings, will be situated on a plinth near Buckingham Palace, overlooking the Mall.
In addition to the Queen's statue, a sculpture of Prince Philip, shown in an Admiral of the Fleet uniform, will also be installed. The memorial complex will also feature a glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary's tiara and a later-life bust of Queen Elizabeth by sculptor Karen Newman. Gardens dedicated to the Commonwealth and the United Kingdom's nations are also part of the design.
Lord Norman Foster, who is overseeing the memorial project, was present early one morning to observe the cardboard cutout being hoisted above Marlborough Gate. He reportedly watched the process using virtual reality goggles. The project team, led by Foster, won a competition last year to design the space.