Queen Elizabeth II broke a 600-year-old royal tradition after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To express solidarity with Americans, the Queen asked her royal guards to play the USA’s national anthem for the first time for stranded Americans in London. Over 5000 Americans gathered outside Buckingham Palace in the wake of the attacks to mourn together.

A two-minute silence was observed after the Coldstream Guard played “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with many in the audience joining in to sing. The troops were then saluted by Prince Andrew, who led them in a formal salute.

The Daily Telegraph reported at the time: “Standing rigidly to attention in the Palace courtyard in front of the troops from the Coldstream Guards and the 1st Bn, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Duke of York, representing the Queen, took the formal salute.⁠ “Beside him, with hand on his heart, stood William Farish, the American ambassador to Britain.⁠

“The band then played a selection of sombre American music, including ‘Hymn for the Fallen,’ written by the composer John Williams and used in the final credits of the film, ‘Saving Private Ryan.’”⁠

Later that week, the Queen attended a memorial service in London for the victims of the terror attack, and she was spotted leaving St Paul’s Cathedral crying.

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