King Charles Echoes Queen Elizabeth’s Historic Precedent by Breaking Protocol for 25th 9/11 Anniversary
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King Charles III followed a historic precedent set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, by directing the King’s Guard to break standard royal protocol and perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on Friday, September 11.
The ceremony honored the 2,977 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks—including 67 British nationals—marking the milestone 25th anniversary with a rare musical display of trans-Atlantic solidarity.
The Protocol and the Royal Precedent
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Under standard royal and military etiquette dating back centuries, foreign national anthems are strictly reserved for official state visits when a foreign head of state is physically received at Buckingham Palace.
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Queen Elizabeth’s 2001 Directive: On September 13, 2001—two days after the attacks—Queen Elizabeth shattered protocol by ordering the Band of the Coldstream Guards to play the U.S. national anthem during the routine morning Guard Change. With hundreds of stranded American tourists and grieving citizens pressed against the palace railings, the gesture became a defining visual of international unity.
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Singing at St. Paul’s: The following day, Queen Elizabeth broke custom once again by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during a memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral—becoming the first British sovereign in history to sing an American anthem.
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The Meaning of Grief: Weeks later, the late Queen delivered her famous message to New York City, coining the enduring phrase: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
The 25th Anniversary Tribute on the Forecourt
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On Friday morning, the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the massed bands of the Guards Division marched into the palace forecourt to a program of American marches, including John Philip Sousa’s “The Thunderer” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever”.
The commemorative service included:
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Anthems: Full renditions of both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Save the King”.
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Memorial Selections: John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” and “Amazing Grace”.
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Dignitaries in Attendance: Representing King Charles, Prince Richard (the Duke of Gloucester) and Birgitte (the Duchess of Gloucester) took the Royal Salute alongside U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens, his wife Harriet, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, and Security Minister Dan Jarvis.
Personal Ground Zero Connections
The Buckingham Palace ceremony follows King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the United States in April, where they laid white flowers at Ground Zero’s South Pool in tribute to the victims.
During that visit, the King and Queen spent time meeting survivors and first responders, including retired Port Authority Police detective Will Jimeno—one of only two officers pulled alive from the rubble after being buried for 13 hours under the collapsed towers. Jimeno commended the King’s genuine, unhurried engagement, recalling how Queen Camilla spoke with his wife (who was seven months pregnant during the disaster) and described his survival as “a testament to the human spirit.”
