Overview

• The UK government has set a provisional budget of £23–46 million for a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, to be erected in St. James’s Park near Buckingham Palace.
• The memorial design competition, currently in its first phase, seeks innovative proposals, including potential digital or interactive elements, with a winner to be announced by summer 2025.
• Critics argue the funding is disproportionate, especially as the UK’s arts and culture sector struggles with significant budget cuts and closures of over 500 museums since 2000.
• Advocates for the memorial emphasize its importance as a tribute to the late Queen’s legacy, with the committee aiming for a design that balances historical context and modern engagement.
• Public dissatisfaction has also been directed at the use of taxpayer funds, with suggestions that the Sovereign Grant, which supports the monarchy, could instead finance the project.