On 7 May 2025 the five finalist designs for the proposed Queen Elizabeth II Memorial, to be sited in St James’s Park, were published by Malcolm Reading Consultants, who are running the competition to appoint the final team.

The finalists are:

• Foster + Partners with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste
• Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates and Arup
• J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop and Arup
• Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte) and Structure Workshop
• WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One and Hilson Moran

There was a brief time window for members of the public to submit feedback, although it was a very limited survey and didn’t provide for specific viewpoints from amenity societies such as the Thorney Island Society. However, our overall thoughts on the proposals so far can be summarised as follows:

• It’s important to think about the longer-term context: will every element be understood in the future?
• There is a need for good north–south connectivity across the park, which would require wide footpaths and a wider bridge than the present one.
• Similarly, there is a need to keep the bridge and paths free from today’s overcrowding, so we recommend no seating should be placed on the bridge, as this would cause further overcrowding.
• Views down the lake in both directions should be maintained – so no high-level bridge or obstructing object.
• The natural surroundings on the lakeside are trees and wildflowers – so artificial trees are not in keeping with the nature of the park.
• Maintenance should be easy for The Royal Parks.
• We recommend that a detailed footfall analysis is undertaken.

While the window for comments is closed, we hope to continue our dialogue with the parties involved, in order to push for a design which acts as an appropriate memorial while adhering to the above requirements.