Royal Family lead nation in remembering those who lost their lives in 7/7 terror attack 20 years ago
NEVER FORGOTTEN Royal Family lead nation in remembering those who lost their lives in 7/7 terror attack 20 years ago
THE Royal Family have lead commemorations to victims of the 7/7 bombings, 20 years on from the shocking terror attack.
Royals have joined senior figures and survivors of the brutal bombings at a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London today as they remember those who lost their lives.
Advertisement
7
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, has arrived at the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral on behalf of the King
Credit: Reuters
7
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arriving at the memorial this morning
Credit: Getty
7
Former PM Theresa May is also in attendance
Credit: Getty
7
King Charles has called on the nation to remember the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' in the face of the attacks
Credit: Splash
52 people were killed, and more than 770 were injured, when four suicide bombers detonated explosives across three Tube trains and on one bus during rush hour in central London on July 7, 2005.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - attending on behalf of the King - have been spotted at the National Service of Commemoration in the capital this morning.
Other royals, including Prince William, are expected to join the touching service, dedicated to the 52 innocent victims of what were Britain's first suicide bombings.
The King, today, called on the nation to remember the "extraordinary courage and compassion" in the face of the attacks.
Advertisement
He said: "Today, as we mark 20 years since the tragic events of 7th July 2005, my heartfelt thoughts and special prayers remain with all those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible summer's day.
"We remember with profound sadness the 52 innocent people who were killed in senseless acts of evil - and the enduring grief of their loved ones.
"We recall, too, the hundreds more who carry physical and psychological scars, and pray that their suffering may ease as the years pass.
"In doing so, we should also remember the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day.
Advertisement
"The selfless bravery of our emergency services, transport workers, and fellow citizens who rushed towards danger to help strangers reminds us of the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst."
King Charles has also called on the country to reaffirm its commitment to "building a society of all faiths and backgrounds, standing against those who seek to divide us".
Inside 7/7 The story behind Britain's worst ever terror attack
He also stressed the importance of communities coming together in times of difficulty.
The monarch added: "While the horrors will never be forgotten, we may take comfort from the way such events rally communities together in solidarity, solace and determination.
Advertisement
"It is this spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal.
"As we remember those we lost, let us therefore use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding, always standing firm against those who would seek to divide us."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed Charles' remarks, focusing on the sense of community against division.
He said: "Today, the whole country will unite to remember the lives lost in the 7/7 attacks, and all those whose lives were changed forever.
Advertisement
"We honour the courage shown that day- the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors, and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror.
"Those who tried to divide us failed. We stood together then, and we stand together now- against hate and for the values that define us of freedom, democracy and the rule of law."
7
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier laid wreaths at the 7 July Memorial Gardens to mark the 20th anniversary of the deadly attacks
Credit: Reuters
7
52 people were killed and more than 770 were injured when four suicide bombers detonated explosives across London's transport network
Advertisement
7
Sadiq Khan outside St Paul's Cathedral today
Credit: Getty
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added: "Twenty years have passed since 7/7 but the passage of time makes what happened that day no less shocking.
"It was an appalling attack on our capital city and on democracy itself.
"As we come together to mark this anniversary, my thoughts remain with the victims, survivors and all who loved them.
Advertisement
"Amid the horror of that day, we saw the best of people, our emergency services, first responders and ordinary Londoners who bravely acted to help one another. Their courage continues to inspire us.
"We will always confront the threats facing this country to keep the public safe and preserve our way of life."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Princess Kate 'icing on the cake' in King Charles plan as hidden royals step up
The royals were out in full force for this week's French state visit, and royal expert Jennie Bond has revealed how Princess Kate will be instrumental for similar events going forward While King Charles and Emmanuel Macron were the stars of the recent French state visit, the work of three major royals also played an important role in representing the Firm. Princess Kate, Princess Anne, and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester all stepped up during the three-day affair, with the hard-working royal women all playing a key part of two major events. While Princess Kate made headlines for her stunning red ensemble, Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester also received their own recognition for their glamorous looks at both Tuesday night's state banquet, and Wednesday night's banquet on the second day of the President's visit. Many were quick to comment on Princess Anne's new hairstyle, as royal commentators pointed out that she had been sporting the same up-do for decades, while the Duchess of Gloucester was named the best dressed during a banquet at Guildhall on Wednesday evening, which was hosted by the Lord Mayor and City of London Corporation. With another major state visit just around the corner, with plans for US president Donald Trump to visit the UK in September, royal expert Jennie Bond has outlined how all three women, particularly Kate, will be instrumental for the upcoming visit. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror that the Princess of Wales will have an important role when Trump arrives on UK shores, explaining: "Catherine will be the icing on the cake for a man as vain as Donald Trump. To be seen with her will be gold dust in his eyes. And I'm sure she will be there to massage his ego in the most diplomatic, subtle and regal way." Jennie also said that Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Anne will play key roles during the US state visit, saying: "I'm sure that Birgitte will be on hand again when President Trump comes to the UK. After so many years in the Royal Family, she is well versed in the niceties of a State Visit." "And the Princess Royal will also have a key role, as always. She really is the King's right hand woman; his confidante, his wingwoman." When asked how Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester would feel about the numerous headlines about their looks during the French state visit, Jennie Bond shared that both are "hard working, no-glory seeking women of the Royal Family", who would be more dedicated to their royal work than fixating on their appearances. Bond said: "Neither, I think, would care one fig about what anyone said about their looks. They dress appropriately for the business of the occasion. Neither seeks to be the centre of the attention, even though they often are. They want the focus to be on the business or cause or campaign in hand. And both have one aim: to support the institution of monarchy." "Anne and Birgitte are stalwarts on the royal treadmill. They work hard, ask for no recognition, almost shun publicity…and just get on with the job. The Royal Family has slimmed down drastically through a combination of circumstances— and so these two more than pull their weight each week. Quietly and in a business-like way. And that is a huge help for the King."
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why becoming a republic would be financially stupid
Leave aside what you think of the social merits of the Royal Family and look at the economics. £130 million is a lot of money, about half a CalMac ferry in fact. That money would be better spent on the health service etc etc say the detractors. Read More: The reality is that if we didn't have a Royal Family then in purely financial terms we should invent one. Looked as a business the Royal Family is a market leading and highly profitable British product, with large export earnings and no effective competition. The Royal Family doesn't cost us a penny; it is hugely profitable for Britain and contributes to our national income many times more than it costs. Take non-doms as another example. People from elsewhere who live in this country but pay less tax than British people do. Seems unfair so let's nail them for more tax. Exactly what Rachel Reeves has done but now it is dawning on her that driving these people away by taxing more of their earnings and assets means we collect less tax rather than more. Why would an Indian Citizen who bases themselves in Britain and pays full tax on their British income and assets stay here if we want to charge Inheritance Tax on their global assets when India and lots of other places don't have Inheritance Tax? The answer is that they would be crazy to stay and, in many cases reluctantly, they are leaving. So less tax revenue for us here. Well done Rachel. (Image: PA) What Governments have got to focus on is increasing the amount of tax we actually get not pandering to people's prejudices by turning the screw on people they are envious of. Becoming a republic would be tragic in many ways but it would also be financially stupid. The non-dom tax regime needs to be looked at again. We want people from other countries who can contribute very positively to our economy to base themselves here, we want more of them not fewer. Governments need to realise that people who have very significant wealth tend to have interests in many countries. Basing themselves in Britain is a choice they make rather than something they can be compelled to do. Rachel Reeves needs to realise this and act sensibly. So what about Scotland? What can we do here other than continue to demand more money and more powers which we then misuse? Scotland has control over its own income tax rates and so far, other than virtue signalling tweaking at the bottom end to give lower paid workers a few extra pence a month, it has chosen to increase income tax rates so that somebody earning from about £45,000 upwards pays markedly more tax than they would elsewhere in the UK. Nigel Farage has come up with an idea for the UK to charge non-doms a one-off £250,000 fee and then distribute this money directly to lower earners. Gimmicky it is but entirely daft it isn't. Scotland could learn from it. Only about 30,000 taxpayers in Scotland pay the top rate of tax which starts at income of roughly £125,000. The exact number is not available but the number of Scots earning over £500,000 will be vanishingly small, perhaps only 1,000 people, certainly less than 5,000. What if we could attract a net additional 10,000 very high earners by putting a cap of £250,000 on the amount of Scottish income tax anybody resident in Scotland has to pay? To pay that amount of tax you would have to earn just over £500,000. If we could do this we would raise the tax collected in Scotland by £2.5 billion pounds every year. Nobody already here would pay more, nobody loses out, it's pure good news. Read More: This boost is before the positive knock-on effect of those extra taxpayers spending money on goods and services in Scotland which in turn creates more jobs and tax revenue to pay for public services. The rest of the UK cannot follow us down this road because it has too much to lose because there are so many more very high earners already there. You could argue that the £250,000 cap on tax payment is too high. A taxpayer paying £100,000 in tax is contributing more than 20 times as much as an average earner. "But it's not progressive" the socialists will wail. Indeed it is not. It's just smart. Our public services in Scotland are crumbling and our tax rates are stifling enterprise and driving people away. If we could attract very high earners to make their homes in Scotland - 10,000 seems a relatively modest target - we could transform our ability to fund public services as well as attract people who will help our nation's economy grow. Why not give it a try? Guy Stenhouse is a notable figure in the Scottish financial sector. He has held various positions, including being the Managing Director of Noble Grossart, an independent merchant bank based in Edinburgh, until 2017
Economist
2 hours ago
- Economist
The hunt for Austin Tice
On December 8th, 2024, rebels swept into Damascus and ousted Syria's dictator, Bashar al-Assad. One of the first things they did was open up the prisons. Syrians who disappeared years earlier began to emerge from their grim detention cells. Would missing American journalist Austin Tice be among them? In a new three-part series on The Weekend Intelligence, Middle East correspondent, Gareth Browne investigates what happened to Austin. It's an attempt to shed some light on a decade of darkness, in one of the most mystifying and oppressive dictatorships of the modern era. A story that could only be reported since the fall of Assad. In episode one, Gareth tells the story of Austin's time in Syria leading up to his capture.
