The Queen and Boris Johnson lead tributes to victims and survivors on 20th anniversary of 9/11
The Queen sends ‘thoughts and prayers’ to victims of ‘terrible’ 9/11 attacks on 20th anniversary as US delegates hold a minute’s silence at Windsor Castle
Queen reflected on her 2010 visit to the site of attack on 20th anniversary of 9/11 in message to US PresidentPrime Minister Boris Johnson said threat of terrorism remains but people refuse to live their lives in ‘fear’Sir Keir Starmer said consequences of attacked were are ‘felt to this day’ and the tragedy was ‘still so raw’
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The Queen and Boris Johnson have lead tributes to the victims and survivors of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
In her heartfelt message to President Joe Biden, the Queen reflected on her visit to the site of the attack back in 2010.
In a message to the US President Joe Biden, she said: ‘As we mark the 20th anniversary of the terrible attacks on September 11 2001, my thoughts and prayers, and those of my family and the entire nation, remain with the victims, survivors and families affected, as well as the first responders and rescue workers called to duty.
‘My visit to the site of the World Trade Centre in 2010 is held fast in my memory.
‘It reminds me that as we honour those from many nations, faiths and backgrounds who lost their lives, we also pay tribute to the resilience and determination of the communities who joined together to rebuild.’
In a defiant message played at a memorial event at the Olympic Park in east London today, the Prime Minister said the threat of terrorism remained but people refused to live their lives in ‘permanent fear’.
‘The fact that we are coming together today – in sorrow but also in faith and resolve – demonstrates the failure of terrorism and the strength of the bonds between us,’ Mr Johnson said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex changed the website of their Archewell Foundation to show rows of victims’ names.
Labour leader Sir Keir, who attended a private memorial service in the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square in London, said the consequences of the attacks were ‘still being felt to this day’, adding the tragedy was ‘still so raw’.
Delegates from the United States Embassy stand as the US national anthem is played at the Guard Change at Windsor Castle tomark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack
American Airlines flight crew shed tears as they pay their respects at the September 11 Memorial Garden at Grosvenor Square in London
A man and a woman embrace at a memorial service for victims the September 11 Memorial Garden at Grosvenor Square
A woman lays a flower wreath at a private memorial service for victims of 9/11 at the Memorial Garden in London
American Airlines flight crew embrace each other during a service to remember the victims who died when an American Airlines flight was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists 20 years ago
Flowers from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were laid in the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square this morning, with the signed note reading: ‘In remembrance of those taken from us on 9/11 and in defiance of those who would have us live in fear’
A man weeps while reading messaging and looking at the flowers laid in tribute for the victims of 9/11 at Grosvenor Square in London
In her heartfelt message to President Joe Biden, the Queen reflected on her visit to the site of the attack back in 2010 (pictured)
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer arrives holding a bunch of flowers to lay them in the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square in London
Delegates from the United States Embassy including Acting Ambassador, Philip T Reeker, (pictured in the red tie) at the Guard Change at Windsor Castle, to mark the 20th anniversary of the US terrorist attack
Members of the public view the flowers laid in the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square, London, to mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack
In her heartfelt message to President Joe Biden, the Queen reflected on her visit to the site of the attack back in 2010
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also paid tribute to those involved in the attacks
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also paid tribute to those involved in the attacks.
They said: ‘On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we remember all those who lost their lives and pay tribute to the tireless work of the emergency services, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice to save others.’
Sir Keir added: ‘But as we mark this anniversary I’m convinced our resolve has never been stronger.
‘We will continue to fight terror and violence, by promoting our values of justice and peace.’
Mr Johnson said recent events in Afghanistan had only strengthened people’s belief in freedom and democracy.
And in a message on a card from the PM laid in Grosvenor Square, he said flowers laid were ‘in remembrance of those taken from us on 9/11, and in defiance of those who would have us live in fear’.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said on Friday that the Prime Minister would ‘mark the anniversary at home’ as he works from Chequers this weekend.
The political leaders’ comments came as the prime minister at the time of the attacks – Tony Blair – said the international community must be prepared to take action against the Taliban if they again allow Afghanistan to become a base of terrorism.
Mr Blair said the US and its allies had no choice but to invade after the Taliban refused to give up the al Qaida leadership responsible for the attacks.
The former head of the UK armed forces, General Lord Richards, said the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan raised the prospect of ‘another 9/11’ as ungoverned spaces opened up which the terrorists were able to exploit.
‘I think we are (closer to another 9/11). We’ve now been pitched back into a dark period which we somehow have to manage,’ he told LBC.
Former prime minister David Cameron has remembered trying to reach his wife, Samantha, who was working in New York when the September 11 attacks struck in 2001.
He said: ’20 years ago today I held my phone and anxiously pressed redial repeatedly, trying to reach Sam who was working in NYC.
‘I will never forget the worry, and the huge relief when, after some hours, I found out she was safe. Today, we commemorate those who were not as fortunate.
‘We remember the victims who so sadly lost their lives, the survivors and all those who were affected from the horror and devastation of 9/11.
‘We pay respect to the heroes who risked their own lives to respond. These are human stories; human tragedies. We will never forget.’
A man wipes away a tear during a private memorial service for family members of the victims of 9/11 in the Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square, London
Flower wreaths are lain in the Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square in London along with a picture Karlie Rogers, a 26-year-old University of Sussex graduate, who was one of 67 Brits to die in the terrorist attack in New York on September 11, 2001
The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle on the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001
United States Embassy Acting Ambassador, Philip T Reeker, Charge d’Affaires, (pictured right) takes the salute at the Guard Change at Windsor Castle
Large crowds lined the streets in Windsor this morning as military personnel including a marching band arrive for the Guard Change at Windsor Castle to mark 20 years since the terrible events of 9/11
The US national is played at Windsor Castle to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 US terror attacks
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also paid tribute to those involved in the attacks.
World leaders paid tribute to the victims and survivors of the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 (pictured)
People have been leaving flowers and American flags rest beside the names of the fallen on the south pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
The Queen (pictured in August) and Boris Johnson have lead tributes to the victims and survivors of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary of the attacks
The acting US ambassador mentioned the special relationship between the United States and the UK on the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which he said remains ‘so crucial to all of us’.
Philip T Reeker said the US would be ‘forever grateful’ for the ‘enduring friendship’ and highlighted the importance of unity between the two countries.
A special changing of the guard ceremony during which the US national anthem was played took place at Windsor Castle on Saturday morning to mark the anniversary of the atrocity.
Hundreds of people gathered inside and outside the walls of the castle to watch as the Band of the Welsh Guards processed through the gates then struck up the Star Spangled Banner.
The anthem was played at Buckingham Palace 20 years ago on September 12 2001, in solidarity with the victims of the atrocity and Saturday’s rendition was followed by a minute’s silence.
Mr Reeker said the ceremony at Windsor Castle this morning was a reminder that the US had ‘no closer ally’ than the United Kingdom.
‘It’s an incredible privilege to represent my country today on this sombre anniversary but at this ceremony,’ he told the PA news agency.
The acting US ambassador Philip T Reeker (pictured) mentioned the special relationship between the United States and the UK on the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which he said remains ‘so crucial to all of us’
A special changing of the guard ceremony during which the US national anthem was played took place at Windsor Castle on Saturday morning to mark the anniversary of the atrocity
The anthem was played at Buckingham Palace 20 years ago on September 12 2001, in solidarity with the victims of the atrocity and Saturday’s rendition was followed by a minute’s silence. Pictured: Members from the US Embassy
Acting Ambassador, Philip T Reeker, Charge d’Affaires, takes the salute at the Guard Change at Windsor Castle on September 11, 2021
Mr Reeker said the ceremony at Windsor Castle this morning was a reminder that the US had ‘no closer ally’ than the United Kingdom
Hundreds of people gathered inside and outside the walls of the castle to watch as the Band of the Welsh Guards processed through the gates then struck up the Star Spangled Banner
‘We’re incredibly grateful to her Majesty the Queen for the playing of our national anthem.
‘(It) represents the friendship and solidarity between our two countries, the United States and the United Kingdom, and united is the key word. This has shown the special relationship remains so crucial to all of us.
‘Speaking for the United States, we have no closer ally and no closer friend in good times and in bad times, and we are very much reminded of that today … through the enduring relationship between our two countries.’
He added: ‘United is a word I underscore in United States, and United Kingdom.
‘We realise we have to face challenges together and we’ve done that for more than three-quarters of a century.’
‘My thoughts today are, of course, with all 3,000 of those who we lost in the attacks … including each and every one of the British citizens who were killed,’ said Mr Reeker.
‘What is important is that our solidarity with allies, particularly the United Kingdom, is on display today.
‘We will face challenges as we have before and certainly will do in the future, and we do that together, united in our own friendship, and for that enduring friendship we will be forever grateful.’
Keir Starmer pays his respects as he takes a moment’s silence, saying in a statement that on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the consequences of the attacks were ‘still being felt to this day’ adding the tragedy was ‘still so raw’
The Tribute in Light in downtown Manhattan, a memorial to the victims of 9/11 terrorist attacks, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the attack
Visitors browse the south pool as flowers and American flags rest among the names of the fallen at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
