A translucent glass bridge inspired by the shape of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding tiara, is to be part of the winning design for her national memorial.

Lord Norman Foster’s design team has won the race to create a set of memorials to honour Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, which will be built in St James’s Park in central London.

The design will also feature Prince Philip, alongside a traditional, large statue of the late Queen overlooking the Mall; plus newly-laid gardens in the park to commemorate the Commonwealth and the communities of the United Kingdom.

Winner from shortlist of five

The design was selected from a shortlist of five concepts and is said to have been successful for the way in which it balances informal and formal, traditional and modern. It will reflect on an “extraordinary life” of someone who lived a life of service to the people.

The full arrangement will see the re-landscaping of a section of St James’s Park, with not only the new “unity” bridge, but also two new gates, together with two gardens, which are themselves in addition to statues of the Queen on horseback and Her Majesty with her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip.

Queen would have approved

Winning architect and project leader Lord Foster said of Prince Philip’s inclusion: “We will show them together and, in a way, there was this inseparable quality which we sought to convey.”

He was pleased that the memorial will be placed in St James’s Park, and therefore will be visible from Buckingham Palace. “I think the location is something which would have appealed to her. You can see the bridge from the room where she often sat for paintings,” he said, before adding: “We respect the biodiversity and nature of that part of the park, which is alive with wildlife.”

His previous work has included the Gherkin office tower and the Great Court of the British Museum in London, and the Reichstag dome in Berlin.

“Tiara-like” lightweight construction

With regard to the bridge, Lord Foster explained that it would be lightweight, enabling it to be floated along the Thames overnight, for installation, cutting out the need for heavy building work.

It will be wider than the current stone bridge, allowing more visitors to enjoy the surrounding gardens. Described as “jewel-like”, the bridge’s cast-glass balustrades will be inspired by The Queen Mary Fringe diamond tiara worn by the then Princess Elizabeth for her marriage to Prince Philip back in 1947.

Featuring 47 bars of diamonds, it famously had its metal frame snap shortly before the ceremony. It was rushed to the jewellers on the morning of the wedding and was back only just in time.

“Minor differences” patched up

The outspoken Lord actually once accused King Charles III (then Prince Charles) of using his “privileged position” to intervene in the plans for the former Chelsea Barracks in 2009. The then Prince of Wales, was very much aligned to more traditional architecture, and blocked his plans at that time.

However, Lord Foster has insisted his previous “minor differences” with the King were all in the past and in his words: “absolutely insignificant” as part of the bigger picture.

Final design still subject to change

There is no date yet set for the monument to be completed and the proposal for the memorial will be subject to change.

The committee working with Lord Foster’s team on the final design, which is expected to be unveiled next year, which would have been the queen’s 100th birthday year.