King Charles Honors 9/11 Victims Like His Mother

On the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, King Charles III led a moving tribute at Buckingham Palace. The Band of the Coldstream Guards performed the U.S. national anthem as part of the Changing of the Guard ceremony. This act directly mirrored a similar display of solidarity by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, twenty-five years ago, just two days after the tragic events of 2001.

Queen Elizabeth II's decision to allow the U.S. anthem to be played at the palace was a rare break from tradition, signifying profound respect for the nearly 3,000 victims. Onlookers at the time were deeply moved, with some weeping and waving American flags. The King and Queen Camilla had recently visited the 9/11 memorial and museum during their April state visit to the United States, reaffirming the close ties between both nations.

During their visit, the royal couple left a bouquet with a note stating, "We stand in enduring solidarity with the American people and in the face of their profound loss." The Queen also sent a condolence message to New York in 2001, acknowledging the immense grief and pain. She later visited the World Trade Center site in 2010 to lay a wreath, further cementing the shared remembrance.