On Tuesday, Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral, for the victims of the London terrorist attrocities, while in New York, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall inaugurated a garden of remembrance to the 67 British victims of the World Trade Centre attacks.
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In London, Her Majesty was joined by Tony Blair and other dignitaries, as well as the families of all those murdered in the bombings of June this year.
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The Queen greeted the bereaved families on the steps outside St. Paul's, looking both elegant and subdued.
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In contrast, Blair's wife Cherie was dressed completely inappropriately in a low-cut outfit on this solemn occasion, showing disrespect for both the dead and the survivors.
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During the ceremony, a poignant moment arose when four lighted candles were brought forward, each bearing the name of the location of the bomb sites at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square.
In contrast, Blair's wife Cherie was dressed completely inappropriately in a low-cut outfit on this solemn occasion, showing disrespect for both the dead and the survivors.
.
During the ceremony, a poignant moment arose when four lighted candles were brought forward, each bearing the name of the location of the bomb sites at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square.
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The candles were carried by members of the emergency services who had been in attendance on the day in question.
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Seated behind Her Majesty during the service, was Sir Ian Blair, Commisioner of the Metropolitan Police, who had ample opportunity to hand over his resignation in person. Regrettably it was a chance he chose not to take.
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In a moving sermon, Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke of the nature of terrorism: "The terrorist is the enemy, not just of a system or a government but of the whole idea that we are each of us unique and
responsible and non-replaceable.
We are here grieving, after all, because those who so pointlessly and terribly died, were, each one of them, precious, non-replaceable.
And those who suffered injury and deep trauma and loss are likewise unique, their minds and hearts scarred by this suffering.
We live by loving what's special, unique in each person. Everyone matters."
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This was a very British memorial service, the kind of ritual that we do best in this country, serious, meaningful, traditional.
Maybe this ceremony offered some small crumb of comfort to those who had been bereaved and perhaps afforded some closure to those that survived.
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In New York, after visiting Ground Zero, to see for themselves the devastation caused in September 2001, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall then travelled to the newly created British Memorial Garden, to unveil a dedication stone bearing Charles' crest, comprising of the Prince of Wales' feathers.
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Prince Charles said: "In the four years that have passed the sorrow is not lessened. Both our nations have been united by grief and strengthened by the support we have given each other."
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At veryBritishsubjects, we send our condolences to all the victims of these terrorist attacks.
The candles were carried by members of the emergency services who had been in attendance on the day in question.
.
Seated behind Her Majesty during the service, was Sir Ian Blair, Commisioner of the Metropolitan Police, who had ample opportunity to hand over his resignation in person. Regrettably it was a chance he chose not to take.
.
In a moving sermon, Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke of the nature of terrorism: "The terrorist is the enemy, not just of a system or a government but of the whole idea that we are each of us unique and
responsible and non-replaceable.We are here grieving, after all, because those who so pointlessly and terribly died, were, each one of them, precious, non-replaceable.
And those who suffered injury and deep trauma and loss are likewise unique, their minds and hearts scarred by this suffering.
We live by loving what's special, unique in each person. Everyone matters."
.
This was a very British memorial service, the kind of ritual that we do best in this country, serious, meaningful, traditional.
Maybe this ceremony offered some small crumb of comfort to those who had been bereaved and perhaps afforded some closure to those that survived.
.
In New York, after visiting Ground Zero, to see for themselves the devastation caused in September 2001, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall then travelled to the newly created British Memorial Garden, to unveil a dedication stone bearing Charles' crest, comprising of the Prince of Wales' feathers..
Prince Charles said: "In the four years that have passed the sorrow is not lessened. Both our nations have been united by grief and strengthened by the support we have given each other."
.
At veryBritishsubjects, we send our condolences to all the victims of these terrorist attacks.
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