The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a solemn memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Monday morning to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings.
The service paid tribute to the 52 people who lost their lives on 7 July 2005, when four suicide bombers targeted the capital’s public transport network during the morning rush hour.
Hundreds more were injured in the coordinated attacks on three Underground trains and a double-decker bus, which brought shock and devastation to the heart of London.
Joined by survivors, bereaved families, emergency service workers, and civic leaders, the Duke and Duchess represented The King and Royal Family at the commemoration.
During the service, the names of the 52 people killed were read aloud by survivors Thelma Stober and Saba Edwards, whose mother, Behnaz Mozakka, died.
As the two women read aloud the names, 52,000 white petals fell from the dome and balconies of St Paul’s Cathedral.
The memorial event also included readings, prayers, and a moment of silence.
Speaking at the service, the Bishop of London paid tribute to the courage of those who responded in the face of terror, and called for continued unity in the face of division. A choir sang hymns chosen in consultation with survivors and families.
Ahead of Monday’s commemorations, the King urged people to remember the “extraordinary courage and compassion” that emerged in response to the attacks 20 years ago.
The 7/7 bombings remain the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. Memorial events were held across London, including a moment of silence at Wimbledon.
