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King Charles is remembering a tragic anniversary in London.
On Monday, July 7, the King, 76, released a statement to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, which saw 52 people killed in 2005 after four suicide bombers attacked London’s transit system.
“Today, as we mark twenty years since the tragic events of 7th July 2005, my heartfelt thoughts and special prayers remain with all those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible Summer’s day,” King Charles said in his statement, noting the importance of “unity’ and “standing firm against those who would seek to divide us.”
He continued, “We remember with profound sadness the 52 innocent people who were killed in senseless acts of evil – and the enduring grief of their loved ones.”
Charles went on to mention those who sustained injuries from the tragedy.
“We recall, too, the hundreds more who carry physical and psychological scars, and pray that their suffering may ease as the years pass,” he said.
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The monarch also remembered the stories of people that displayed “extraordinary courage and compassion” during “the darkness of that day.”
“The selfless bravery of our emergency services, transport workers, and fellow citizens who rushed towards danger to help strangers reminds us of the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst,” he continued.
“It is this spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal,” the King said. “As we remember those we lost, let us therefore use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding, always standing firm against those who would seek to divide us.”
Charles also released a statement on the Royal Family’s Instagram page, with a photograph capturing the King standing at the 7 July Memorial Gardens in London’s Hyde Park.
“While the horrors will never be forgotten, we may take comfort from the way such events rally communities together in solidarity, solace and determination,” the statement included.
A national memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on Monday.
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The King’s brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, will attend the service on his behalf.
While over 50 people were killed during the bomb attacks on the London Underground and a bus service, nearly 800 others were also injured.
The incident saw the suicide bombers detonate backpacks full of explosives on the Tube, along with one device on a double decker bus in what is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in British history.
