United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Warren Stephens and his wife, Harriet, marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks by laying a wreath at the September 11th Memorial Garden in London's Grosvenor Square.
Memorials are being held globally to commemorate the 2,977 lives lost in the attacks, including 67 British citizens. On that day, hijackers took control of four passenger jets, with three striking the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia. The fourth jet crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.
"Harriet and I want to pay our respects to the 67 UK citizens who were killed on 9/11 25 years ago," Ambassador Stephens said at the ceremony. "It's hard to believe, it's 25 years ago for me, for us. Talking about it as we walked in and it's still hard to believe what happened. And it's a tragedy none of us will ever forget."
He also highlighted the solidarity shown by Britain in the aftermath of the attacks, citing an "outpouring of letters and flowers from all over the country." Over 1,000 such tributes are archived at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom stated that the UK and U.S. "stand together in memory of those we lost, and in defence of the values we cherish." The Prime Minister recalled receiving messages of support from across the U.S. following terrorist attacks in Manchester during his tenure as mayor.
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who led the nation during the attacks and the subsequent "war on terror," noted that the anniversary serves to "commemorate the unshakeable and essential bond" between the two countries.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are scheduled to attend a Royal Salute on the Buckingham Palace forecourt later on Friday, accompanied by Ambassador Stephens.
The events of 9/11 remain the worst terrorist atrocity in history, impacting victims from over 90 nations. In response, the U.S. invoked NATO's collective security clause, a commitment now questioned by the current president. The attacks led to significant deployments of UK forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, resulting in casualties and ongoing global repercussions.
Ambassador Stephens previously stated at a memorial stone dedication at the U.S. Embassy in London that Britain had rallied in support "in one of America's darkest hours." He affirmed that "despite our disagreements and debates," the transatlantic relationship "has kept us safe for centuries," remarks made amid strained relations with the Trump White House.
Andy Burnham also emphasized the shared values between the UK and U.S., stating, "On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we remember the nearly 3,000 people who were killed, including 67 Britons." He added, "My thoughts are with all those who lost friends and family members that terrible day. Time may pass, but I know the grief is still felt just as deeply today."