Members of the public wishing to contribute their memories of Queen Elizabeth II can do so through the official digital memorial website at www.queenelizabeth.com before submissions close on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Britons are being urged to share their treasured memories of Queen Elizabeth II before the deadline closes for contributions to a national digital memorial celebrating the life and remarkable 70-year reign of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
The appeal comes during the centenary year of Her Late Majesty’s birth, with members of the public given until Saturday, 31 October, to submit their personal recollections for an ambitious historical project designed to preserve her legacy for generations to come.
From royal walkabouts and state occasions to village celebrations and unforgettable Jubilee festivities, the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial is bringing together the personal experiences of ordinary people whose lives were touched by the monarch.
Launched on 21 April 2026, exactly 100 years after Queen Elizabeth II was born, the online memorial combines personal memories, historic photographs, film footage and archive material to build an extraordinary record of a reign that spanned seven decades of British history.
Hundreds of people have already contributed, including prominent public figures, with businessman Sir Richard Branson becoming one of the latest to share his memories ahead of the closing date.
But organisers are particularly keen to hear from ordinary members of the public, recognising that the story of Queen Elizabeth II cannot be told through official engagements and historic events alone.
The memories of people who met her, watched her visit their communities or celebrated the milestones of her reign are also an important part of Britain’s history.
Whether someone sang for the Queen in a school choir, shook her hand during a royal visit or gathered with neighbours to celebrate her Silver, Golden, Diamond or Platinum Jubilee, those recollections can now become part of a permanent national archive.
The Cabinet Office and Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee have issued a final appeal for contributions before the submission portal closes at the end of October.
The memorial is intended to provide a lasting record not only of what Queen Elizabeth II achieved as sovereign, but also of the personal connections she formed with generations of people throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and beyond.
Seven decades of duty and devotion
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.
Her Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953 became a defining moment in British broadcasting history, watched by millions as television brought the ancient ceremony into homes across the country.
Over the following 70 years, she witnessed extraordinary changes in British society, technology, politics and Britain’s place in the world.
Her reign encompassed 15 British prime ministers, beginning with Sir Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss, whom she appointed just two days before her death.
Throughout those decades, the Queen remained a symbol of continuity, undertaking thousands of official engagements, supporting charities and representing the United Kingdom at home and overseas.
Her historic Platinum Jubilee in 2022 marked an unprecedented milestone, making her the first British monarch to celebrate 70 years on the throne.
Just three months later, on 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96.
Her death brought an extraordinary outpouring of public grief and affection, with vast crowds gathering to pay their respects during the period of national mourning.
For many Britons, she had been the only monarch they had ever known.
A remarkable archive of British history
The digital memorial is much more than a collection of personal tributes.
At its heart is the first complete digitised record of the Queen’s official engagements and duties, covering the entirety of her reign from 1952 to 2022.
Using records from the Court Circular, the Royal Family’s official record of engagements, visitors can search for particular dates and locations to discover where the Queen was and what duties she was undertaking.
The interactive website also brings together photographs, films and historical material from major national collections, including the Royal Collection, the National Archives and the BBC.
Earlier this year, the Prince of Wales contributed his own personal recollections of his grandmother, including childhood memories of having tea with the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle.
Other contributors have included Olympic diver Tom Daley, actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry, and artist Dame Tracey Emin.
The memorial also features touching recollections from members of the public, including people who encountered the Queen during royal tours, official visits and everyday occasions.
These personal accounts sit alongside the official historical record, helping illustrate how the Queen’s life and reign intersected with communities throughout Britain.
A lasting national tribute
The digital memorial forms part of a wider programme commemorating the late monarch, following recommendations from the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee.
Plans also include a permanent national memorial in St James’s Park in central London, featuring tributes to both Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The proposed memorial will provide a permanent place for reflection in the heart of the capital.
A separate initiative, the Queen Elizabeth Trust, has also been established to support the regeneration of community spaces across the United Kingdom.
Backed by an initial £40 million Government endowment, the charity is intended to help restore and improve community centres, green spaces and other places that bring people together, reflecting the late Queen’s lifelong commitment to public service.
Although public submissions to the digital memorial will close on 31 October, the website itself will remain accessible and continue to grow.
Organisers plan to work with archives and heritage organisations around the world to incorporate additional historical material and newly digitised collections in the years ahead.
The result is intended to be an enduring historical resource, allowing future generations to explore the life of a monarch whose reign became inseparable from the story of modern Britain.
As the centenary year of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth draws towards its conclusion, the appeal offers one final opportunity for members of the public to ensure their personal memories form part of that national record.
From the grandest royal occasions to the smallest acts of kindness remembered by those who met her, each contribution offers another glimpse into the extraordinary life of a Queen who devoted seven decades to her country.
Members of the public wishing to contribute their memories of Queen Elizabeth II can do so through the official digital memorial website at www.queenelizabeth.com before submissions close on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
