QUEEN'S TEARS FOR US VICTIMS
Tears ... the Queen grieves for victims of the tragedy
By JANE BARNES
THE QUEEN led an emotional tribute in London today to the victims who lost their lives in the American terrorist attacks.
Brits and Americans stood shoulder to shoulder and grieved together at a sombre and emotional service of remembrance at St Paul’s.
As the dead were still being counted in the US, thousands came to the historic 17th century cathedral to express their solidarity and pain.
US Ambassador William Farish joined the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Prime Minister along with members of the US community in Britain in the 2,600-strong congregation.
Outside a crowd of several thousand gathered to listen to the service on loud speakers.
Many were overcome with emotion as the cathedral’s giant organ piped out the US national anthem.
The Queen, dressed in sombre black, could be seen wiping tears from her eyes.
Sombre ... the Queen at St Paul's today
Americans - and many British people - in the congregation placed a hand on their hearts and sang the words, some with tears trickling down their cheeks.
A two-minute silence afterwards was broken by sobs and sniffs echoing through the chamber.
The only movement was at the front where 17-year-old Lauren Willoughby, an American student in London, lit a candle on behalf of the American people.
At noon, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York led the way slowly down the central aisle from the great wooden doors.
Then came Prince Philip and Prince Charles followed a step behind by the Queen.
The Queen kept her gaze firmly ahead, while the princes offered comforting nods to those who caught their eye.
In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury said he watched in horror as the twin towers of the World Trade Centre disappeared under a cloud of dust and smoke.
Dr George Carey said Britons were "with you in your hour of need" and liberty, always at the heart of the American vision, "must be defended".
The Archbishop said those responsible "for such barbaric acts must be held to account", but warned: "We must be guided by higher goals than mere revenge.
"As we battle with evil, our goal must be a world where such violence is a thing of the past."
Dr Carey spoke of sharing the values with Americans, Christians and "other great faiths" and leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities all attended the service.
After the service, which lasted nearly an hour, the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and Mr Blair and his wife Cherie spoke with Americans on the steps of the cathedral.
The Queen told American student Marianne Thiel, 21, from Minnesota: "Wasn’t it a beautiful service?"
And Californian Kelly Couch, 20, said: "The Queen asked us if we thought the service had been good and I said it had been wonderful."
Americans called out "thank you Ma’am" as she passed them, while the Duke of Edinburgh asked people where they were from and whether they lived in Britain.
Peter Morris, 67, on holiday from New York, was among those who spoke to the Prince of Wales.
Comfort ... Prince Charles and Archbishop Carey speak to waiting crowds
Mr Morris, who arrived in Britain on the day of the tragedy, said: "Prince Charles said to me 'we can’t do enough. This is a terrible thing. We are with you in spirit. You can’t feel it but we are’."
Mr Morris replied: "But we can feel it profoundly."
The prince also spoke to Geoffrey Smith, 33, whose sister Kelly had escaped from the crumbling World Trade Centre.
Mr Smith, who works in London, told the prince his sister had been working at Merrill Lynch and it had taken him 24 hours to hear that she was safe.
Charles told him: "Send her my best wishes."
Mr Blair, following behind the royals, told Americans in the crowd: "We’re with you. It was a tragedy and we will stand by you."
US student John Paul Gutierrez, 21, said he had been touched by the Prime Minister’s words, adding: "The British people have been just remarkable. People I don’t even know have come up and hugged me."
