King Charles Leads Royal Tribute as UK Marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th Birthday

King Charles III has led commemorations marking what would have been the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, unveiling plans for a national memorial in her honour.

On Tuesday, April 21, the King, accompanied by Queen Camilla and senior members of the royal family, visited the British Museum to review design proposals for the planned Queen Elizabeth Memorial.

Also present was Keir Starmer, alongside members of the memorial committee, including renowned architect Norman Foster. The delegation examined a scale model of the project, alongside artistic renderings and a short film outlining the vision for the landmark.

The memorial, set to be constructed at St James’s Park, will feature contributions from leading artists including Martin Jennings, Yinka Shonibare and Karen Newman.

Across London, tributes to the late monarch continued throughout the day. Princess Anne officially opened the Queen Elizabeth II Garden at Regent’s Park, adding to a series of commemorative events planned to mark the centenary.

A state reception is scheduled for later in the evening at Buckingham Palace, with attendance expected from senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Edward and Sophie.

Members of the memorial committee said the project reflects years of consultation across the United Kingdom. Organisers noted the design aims to create a unifying public space, mirroring the late Queen’s legacy of bringing together people from different generations, faiths and communities.

Following the commemorations, King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to travel to the United States on April 27 for a series of engagements in Washington, D.C., New York and Virginia, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.