Buckingham Palace staged a commemorative Changing of the Guard where the King’s Guard performed the U.S. national anthem — a deliberate and public show of support. The ceremony, attended by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens and his wife Harriet, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Security Minister Dan Jarvis, also included the U.K. anthem, "Hymn to the Fallen" and "Amazing Grace." The palace caption noted: "Remembering all those affected by the tragic events of 9/11, 25 years ago today." The tribute recalled the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the coordinated attacks.
The palace’s move intentionally echoed an extraordinary decision by Queen Elizabeth shortly after the 2001 attacks. On Sept. 13, 2001, with no visiting head of state, she requested the Coldstream Guards perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the Changing of the Guard and later sang the anthem at a memorial service in St Paul’s Cathedral — a rare, personal expression of solidarity.