When I was recently in England, I was fortunate to be included in a reception at The British Museum where the final plans for the official memorial to Queen Elizabeth II were on display. It took place on April 21, 2026, the centenary of Elizabeth’s birth, and King Charles III and Queen Camilla were on hand to examine the scale model of the memorial in London’s St. James’s Park that is expected to be dedicated in 2028. Lord Foster, the architect responsible for the memorial design, also showed the King the maquettes of the statues of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Having previously written about the significance of the memorial to Britain’s longest reigning monarch (Royals Extra on April 14 and May 7, 2025), I was eager to explain to my readers the rationale for the changes to the original plan approved last June. In my latest post, titled “A Royal Reception to Mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Centenary,” I describe the new design featuring standing statues of Elizabeth and Philip and why Norman Foster’s vision of the Queen on horseback as well as a depiction of the royal couple together were scuttled.

I highlight the uneasy history between Lord Foster and the King when he was Prince of Wales over their diametrically opposed views on architecture and how they reached a rapprochement in recent years. The choice of Foster for the memorial is a good example of King Charles putting past differences aside and respecting the judgment of his advisers.

By way of consolation to fans of an equestrian statue, I also offer a description of the only portrayal of Elizabeth II in that pose to be found in Britain—and how she reacted when she unveiled it in 2003.