She may not be America's monarch, but Queen Elizabeth II made a surprising gesture of support for the United States in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Visitors to Buckingham Palace are usually treated to military songs and pop music while watching the annual Changing of the Guard ceremony, but two days after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Queen Elizabeth chose to break with tradition.

On September 13, 2001, the late Queen Elizabeth, who died on September 8, 2022, instructed the Coldstream Guard Band to play “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the first and only time in British history.

Her extraordinary step of standing with the American people brought tears to the eyes of the crowd of 3,000, including many American tourists, as shown in ABC news footage by Peter Jennings that evening.

This was not the only time Queen Elizabeth honored the American people after the attacks.

Later that week, the Queen attended a special service at St. Paul's Cathedral to remember the victims of 9/11, where she wiped away tears and once again ordered the playing of the American national anthem.

Queen Elizabeth also wrote one of her most famous quotes in a moving letter to the American people after the attacks.

“This is a dark and tragic time for the families and friends of the missing and those affected by the attacks - for many of you here today,” Queen Elizabeth wrote in her message, which was read during a prayer service in New York City. [My thoughts and prayers are with you all in these difficult days now and in the days ahead. But no words can take away the anguish and pain of this moment.”

She concluded her message with one of her most quoted lines, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Years later, the late Queen again honored the American people when she visited the site of the World Trade Center Building during a 2010 trip to New York City.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, she ordered a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” at Windsor Castle to honor the 3,000 victims of the attacks.