Ten years ago on July 7th 2005, London was changed forever after a series of devastating terrorists attacks on the public transport network.
And just two days after his daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana’s joyous christening, the solemn 33-year-old represented the royal family as he joined about 400 British dignitaries, locals and key figures for a special memorial service in London’s Hyde Park.
The pain from the decade-old attacks was still incredibly raw and during the touching service, victims from the horrific massacre in Tunisia last month were also remembered.
The father-of-two paid his respects to the fallen, laying flowers at the memorial and chatting to survivors and their families.
William paid his respects to those who suffered from the devastating attacks.
A minute’s silence was held at 11.30am to mark the heartbreaking 10th anniversary, while the British community banded together by using the #walktogether on social media.
Prince William was particularly moved by one of the youngest survivors from the attacks, Emma Craig, now 24. Emma was just 14-years-old when a bomb struck on her train at Aldgate station.
Speaking at poignant service, Emma recalled how she was on the way to work experience for at a legal firm.
“’It may not have broken London, but it did break some of us,” she said during her stirring speech.
Before adding: “All of us lost our innocence on that day, our naivety, the thought that ‘something like that could never happen to me’ or even to London,” Emma explained, also revealing that she had “struggled a lot afterwards” because she was scared of being “weak.”
Prince William was particulary moved by survivor, Emma Craig’s heart wrenching speech.
Meanwhile British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the nation in a statement earlier in the day.
“Today the country comes together to remember the victims of one of the deadliest terrorist atrocities on mainland Britain.”
“Ten years on from the 7/7 London attacks, the threat from terrorism continues to be as real as it is deadly – the murder of 30 innocent Britons whilst holidaying in Tunisia is a brutal reminder of that fact. But we will never be cowed by terrorism.”
William listens on at the memorial.
The deadly July 7 attack was orchestrated by four young British Muslims who travelled down London where they detonated homemade bombs hidden in rucksacks on three underground trains and a bus during morning rush-hour.
The 2005 attack killed the four terrorists and 52 victims, while wounding 700 others. Among the victims were citizens from Australia, France, Italy, Poland, Israel, Afghanistan, Nigeria, New Zealand and a Vietnamese-American.
Ten years on, our thoughts all with all those who were affected by the attacks on one of London’s darkest days.
The royal chats to the victims and their families on the tenth anniversary of the deadly attacks.
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