Star Spangled Banner in London

The Star Spangled Banner was played during the changing of the guard today, nineteen years ago, in honor of the United States which had been attacked the day prior.

The day after the September 11 attacks more than 5000 American tourists and expats gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace. At the request of Queen Elizabeth II, the band of the Coldstream Guards broke with hundreds of years of tradition to play The Star Spangled Banner during the changing of the guard.

The decision to play the Star Spangled Banner showed the Queen’s intent to Never Forget 9-11.

Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the “Defence of Fort M’Henry“, a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key. He wrote the piece after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the U.S. victory.