| − | In the aftermath of the [[9/11]] terror attacks, many American tourists were stranded in Britain. The "Changing of the Guard" ceremony at [[Buckingham Palace]] is usually watched by several hundred onlookers, mostly tourists, who line the pavement in front of the palace to see the centuries-old tradition, which dates back to 1660.<ref>'''Graves, David''' ''Palace breaks with tradition in musical tribute'' [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/09/14/nbrit114.xml Daily telegraph, 14 September 2001]. Accessed 14 February 2008</ref> On 13 September, a crowd of around 5000 people, mostly Americans, had gathered in the absence of few other focal points in the capital for the American community. In an unprecedented move, [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] ordered the band of the Coldstream Guards to break over three centuries of tradition and to play the Star Spangled Banner as a sign of respect and solidarity. <ref>'''Kelso, Paul''' ''US anthem played at changing of the guard'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/sep/14/september11.usa3 The Guardian, 14 September 2001]. Accessed 14 February 2008.</ref> | + | In the aftermath of the [[9/11]] terror attacks, many American tourists were stranded in Britain. The "Changing of the Guard" ceremony at [[Buckingham Palace]] is usually watched by several hundred onlookers, mostly tourists, who line the pavement in front of the palace to see the centuries-old tradition, which dates back to 1660.<ref>'''Graves, David''' ''Palace breaks with tradition in musical tribute'' [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/09/14/nbrit114.xml Daily telegraph, 14 September 2001]. Accessed 14 February 2008</ref> On 13 September 2001, a crowd of around 5000 people, mostly Americans, had gathered in the absence of few other focal points in the capital for the American community. In an unprecedented move, [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] ordered the band of the Coldstream Guards to break over three centuries of tradition and to play the Star Spangled Banner as a sign of respect and solidarity. <ref>'''Kelso, Paul''' ''US anthem played at changing of the guard'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/sep/14/september11.usa3 The Guardian, 14 September 2001]. Accessed 14 February 2008.</ref> |