Pembroke Gardens tipped as frontrunner for Queen Elizabeth II statue
Portsmouth City Council has confirmed it is moving forward with plans for a memorial statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II, with fundraising expected to begin in spring 2026.
A Cabinet update report highlights the city’s continuing work following a notice of motion passed by full council back in October 2022.
The report notes that national plans for a major memorial in London are also progressing, with Foster & Partners selected to design the St James’s Park tribute.
Their concept includes a translucent bridge inspired by the Queen’s wedding tiara, alongside new gardens, pathways, and a statue of Prince Philip.
Locally, Portsmouth’s plans are being carefully developed, with advice that royal statues should be approached in “slow time” to ensure a lasting, high-quality tribute.
The council has also reviewed existing examples across the UK, including bronze statues in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Oakham, and a limestone carving at York Minster.
Potential sites in Portsmouth have been assessed with Historic England. Scheduled monument locations such as Point Battery, King’s Bastion, Southsea Castle, and Lumps Fort have been ruled out, while areas with a high concentration of memorials, including Guildhall Square and Clarence Esplanade, are being treated with caution.
The leading contender for the statue is Pembroke Gardens, the original home of the Nelson statue before its move to Grand Parade. The council says the first step will be public fundraising, with a donation page planned to go live in spring 2026.
Councillor Chris Atwell said he is “Really pleased to see Pembroke Gardens mentioned in the report as perhaps the frontrunner for the memorial. I know locals will greatly enjoy having a statue of her late majesty in their area down on the edge of the common.”
He also reminded councillors that the late Queen’s birthday, April 21, 1926, coincides with the date Portsmouth officially became a city.