Plans for Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II to Be Unveiled in 2026 to Mark Her 100th Birthday

In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks up and waves to members of staff of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office as she ends an official visit which is part of her Jubilee celebrations in London. (AP)
In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks up and waves to members of staff of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office as she ends an official visit which is part of her Jubilee celebrations in London. (AP)
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Plans for Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II to Be Unveiled in 2026 to Mark Her 100th Birthday

In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks up and waves to members of staff of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office as she ends an official visit which is part of her Jubilee celebrations in London. (AP)
In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks up and waves to members of staff of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office as she ends an official visit which is part of her Jubilee celebrations in London. (AP)

An independent body will unveil plans for a permanent memorial to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 2026, to mark what would have been the late monarch's 100th birthday, the government said Sunday.

The Cabinet Office said Robin Janvrin, Elizabeth's former private secretary, has been appointed as chairman of the Queen Elizabeth memorial committee to consider proposals for a “fitting tribute” to Britain's longest-reigning monarch following her death in September 2022.

The queen died in Balmoral, her beloved Scottish castle estate, at 96 years old after 70 years on the throne.

Janvrin and other officials on the committee will consider Elizabeth's life of public service and the causes she supported, and recommend plans for a national legacy program in the late queen's honor.

“It will be a unique challenge to try to capture for future generations Her Late Majesty’s extraordinary contribution to our national life throughout her very long reign,” said Janvrin, who worked at Buckingham Palace in various roles from 1987 to 2007.

The recommendations will be presented to Elizabeth's heir King Charles III and the prime minister.

In 1955 Elizabeth unveiled a statue of her father, George VI, on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace.



Saudi Arabia, France Discuss Boosting Cultural Cooperation

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia, France Discuss Boosting Cultural Cooperation

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq has met with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Patrick Maisonnave to discuss boosting cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Touq praised France's efforts to enhance existing cultural cooperation, commending the French Ministry of Culture's support for initiatives under the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in 2021. He highlighted the deep strategic partnership between the two nations across various cultural sectors, mainly film, heritage, museums, fashion, libraries, theater and performing arts, and visual arts.

The ambassador also praised Saudi Arabia's efforts to expand cultural relations with France in the service of both nations. He conveyed France's appreciation to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan for his dedicated efforts to foster cooperation between the two sides.

Their talks focused on current cultural partnerships between Saudi Arabia and France, reviewing future opportunities and practical steps to promptly implement cultural cooperation and exchange.

The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Culture's Undersecretary for International Cultural Relations Eng. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Kanaan.