Buckingham Palace marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a solemn, historic changing of the guard ceremony in London, honoring the nearly 3,000 victims who perished in the 2001 attacks, including 67 British citizens, according to coverage by NTD News.
During the commemorative ceremony, the Band of the Coldstream Guards performed the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," inside the palace forecourt before an audience of British military veterans, American diplomats, and international onlookers. The musical tribute echoed a historic gesture enacted by Queen Elizabeth II on September 13, 2001, when the palace guard played the American anthem in a rare demonstration of international solidarity.
Senior representatives from the United States Embassy in London, led by the deputy chief of mission and defense attachés, stood alongside senior British defense officials to observe a formal minute of silence. Official wreaths were laid in memory of emergency first responders and civilians who lost their lives in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The commemorative tribute underscored the enduring diplomatic and military alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. Observers noted that the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of shared international commitments to counter-terrorism cooperation and democratic defense partnerships.
