The British royal family has marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Queen Elizabeth II by announcing comprehensive plans for a new charity and memorial in central London.
Several events are planned for Tuesday to honor Britain’s longest-reigning king, who died nearly four years ago at the age of 96.
His son King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the British Museum in London to see the design of the planned monument, while their daughter Princess Anne will officially open the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens in London’s Regent’s Park. In a video posted to the royal family’s YouTube channel, Prince Charles will also reflect on his mother’s legacy.
The planned memorial would reimagine London’s St James’s Park and include a translucent glass Unity bridge reminiscent of the tiara Elizabeth wore on her wedding day, as well as statues of Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip.
The statue of Elizabeth will be made from bronze by sculptor Martin Jennings, taking inspiration from Pietro Annigoni’s famous portrait of the late queen gazing into the distance while wearing the robes of the Order of the Garter, the Cabinet Office announced on Monday.
A digital monument containing archival material from Elizabeth’s reign will also be installed, similar to the monument planned for St James’s Park. The Cabinet Office said people from all over the world will be able to reflect on their memories of the late Queen and “tag events and locations on the site.”
A new charity called the Queen Elizabeth Trust, launched with a one-off £40 million ($54 million) donation, will also carry on the late queen’s legacy and fund “places at the heart of local life, such as community centers and green spaces”, the Cabinet Office said.
Prince Charles and Camilla will host representatives of charities supported by Elizabeth and those celebrating her 100th birthday at Buckingham Palace later on Tuesday.
Commemorative stamps and coins have also been released at Buckingham Palace as the biggest ever public exhibition of Elizabeth’s fashion takes place over several months.
