ROBERT HARDMAN: Why Victoria’s looming presence means £46million Queen’s memorial shall be in St James’s Park
Throughout her long life, she always avoided any competition with the ancestors, especially Queen Victoria.
And clearly that will be a guiding principle for the national memorial to Elizabeth II – judging by yesterday’s announcement of the two-stage competition to create it.
Outlining a budget of up to £46 million, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden called it ‘one of the most significant design projects in recent British history’.
The two overarching issues were always going to be location and representation.
On the former, it was announced yesterday that it will be in the area of St James’s Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate. That central London location makes sense for several reasons.
First, every state procession goes down The Mall and will therefore have to pass right in front of this tribute.
Second, she will be standing opposite Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth. Its peaceful evolution into a network of 56 nations is among her greatest achievements.
Third, it gets round the ‘Victoria problem’. As any visitor to Buckingham Palace is well aware, the front entrance is dominated by the Victoria Memorial.
Throughout her long life, she always avoided any competition with the ancestors, especially Queen Victoria. And clearly that will be a guiding principle for the national memorial to Elizabeth II (pictured) – judging by yesterday’s announcement of the two-stage competition to create it
Outlining a budget of up to £46 million, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden called it ‘one of the most significant design projects in recent British history’. The two overarching issues were always going to be location and representation
It involves 2,300 tonnes of marble, rises 82 feet and is topped with a winged Victory hovering over a giant Victoria.
The only way to do justice to Elizabeth II outside the royal HQ would either be to build something of similar dimensions or else remove Victoria altogether.
Our late monarch would have been appalled by either prospect.
I remember the day when she actually overtook Victoria’s record for the longest reign in British history. We in the media all made a huge noise about it.
Not so Elizabeth II, who happened to be opening a new railway line in Scotland that afternoon.
‘Many have also kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired,’ she declared at the unveiling ceremony.
‘A long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception.’ In other words: No fuss, please, and no contest.
By placing her a third of a mile away on her own plot – closer to her own parents – she will be mistress of her own domain. Location sorted, how best to represent her?
That will be for the memorial committee, led by her former private secretary, Lord Janvrin, to decide.
The two overarching issues were always going to be location and representation. On the former, it was announced yesterday that it will be in the area of St James’s Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate
A shortlist will be released in spring, with the winner announced in summer.
We might think of a kindly matriarchal figure with a handbag. Yet that would surely be to immortalise the Queen of later years.
How best to convey a sense of majesty and timelessness?
One answer might be to capture her in her prime, in uniform and on horseback.
Think of her riding past this same spot, year after year, at Trooping the Colour.
That was the image of her that Prince Philip liked – so much so that he kept it in his study, in the form of Edward Seago’s portrait of her at her first Birthday Parade in 1953.
On which point, the successful bidder should make sure to include him, too. Tucked away in the competition smallprint is the need for ‘an element that honours Prince Philip’.
The site will also include a new bridge over the lake in St James’s Park, replacing the existing one.
Hence the budget. Before the usual suspects moan about the cost, it should be noted that up to half will be spent on safe access over the bridge. A very practical Queen.
