The press release issued by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee on 29 June 2026.
The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial marks a significant milestone today with the launch of a new collection of archive content and records with the publication of the first selection of memories from those who knew her.
Memories of the Late Queen Elizabeth shared by members of the public and those who knew her are now live as part of a milestone digital archive into her life, and can be viewed at www.queenelizabeth.com.
Also launching today is a fully digitised version of the Court Circular (Queen Elizabeth’s official diary) covering the entirety of Queen Elizabeth’s reign from 1952 to 2022. The digitisation gives the public a searchable, complete record of her public engagements and duties across seven decades. The project was supported by volunteer students from a number of schools, working with data provided by The Times Online.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales was among those to share a personal memory of his grandmother, recalling having tea with her and Prince Philip in Windsor Castle when he was young, as his own contribution to the digital memorial project.
The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial, which launched on 21 April 2026, is a Cabinet Office-led project that brings together rich archive material, photography and video to map key events from Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign, and invites the public from around the world to contribute their own memories, creating a lasting public record.
Since launch, personal memories of Queen Elizabeth have been shared. A first selection of these memories goes live today through an interactive map, illustrating the remarkable breadth of her reach: across the United Kingdom. Further memories will be published during 2026.
“I was working as an aircraft handler. I spent 24 years looking after the Queen’s helicopter, and when it had moved to RAF Odiham. The Queen came to meet the staff. When the chief pilot introduced me, Her Majesty said What a wonderful job I do and, “I must apologise, they picked me up in a field this morning and I’ve dragged grass through the carpet”. I said, “That’s not a problem, ma’am”.
“I remember HM Elizabeth II visiting Belfast in 2012 at the location where I work. She drove through in a cavalcade. I got a photo of her waving majestically with her famous white-gloved hand in her passing limousine to the waiting crowds”
“Of my many memories, that of her riding Burmese in Trooping The Colour, when shots were fired, is one that stands out to me the most. I was a teenager at the time, and watching her control Burmese, calm him down, and then carry on was amazing. The only sign of something different was a brief moment when she turned back to look and then gave a smile and a laugh to someone near her. Her amazing skills as a rider and her determination to keep going both epitomise the last Queen to me and will always be a vivid memory.”
The digital memorial brings together contributions from some of the UK’s leading cultural and heritage institutions — including The National Archives, Royal Collection, Royal Mint Museum, Royal Mail, and Press Association. Today, archival material covering further key moments across the Queen’s life and reign is published on the interactive map for the public to explore.