On July 7, 2025, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, attended a solemn memorial service at the 7/7 memorial in London’s Hyde Park. This observance marked the 20th anniversary of the heinous bombings. Like the attacks on July 7, 2005, which killed 52 people and injured more than 700 in those attacks. The emotionally charged hour-long service convened survivors, family members of victims, and special guests, all joined together in a collective spirit.
Prince William paid a surprise visit to the memorial site. He placed a bouquet of flowers upon a plaque commemorating the lives lost. During the ceremony, he appeared choked with emotion, a measure of just how transformational this moment was and the weight of the occasion, almost six years after the bombings. It was the first time he’d been to a service like this since 2015, marking the 10th anniversary of these awful events.
In a moving moment, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge was captured on camera having an emotional exchange with survivor Thelma Stober. He met with Gerald Oppenheim, chairman of the London Bombing Relief Charitable Fund. To make the conversation more enjoyable, they hosted their chat inside a beautiful tea tent. The proceedings were held up a full half hour before they even got started.
The memorial service commenced at 8:50 AM, precisely coinciding with the moment when the first bomb detonated two decades ago. The event brought together nearly 500 honored guests, including both survivors and families of victims lost in the attack.
As well as reflecting on the sad anniversary, King Charles marked the day with a deeply personal message that was issued earlier that day. He expressed his thoughts for those impacted by the bombings, stating, “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.”
In Prince William’s words, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for delivering such a powerful message of hope. He thanked the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who attended a separate memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, for being so supportive. These statements were a testament to the royal family’s recognition of their duty to survivors and dead, and their service to that duty.
Thelma Stober shared her perspective during the service, stating, “Terrorism will never succeed to divide or break us. They tried to tear us apart that day but they failed. Humanity will always be stronger than hate.” Her remarks struck a chord with many of the thousands of attendees who came to find healing in collective strength and determination.
Gerald Oppenheim commended Prince William’s ongoing support for survivors, saying, “We appreciate all you and members of the Royal Family do for survivors of the 7/7 attacks.” This feeling underscores the importance of royal participation in recognizing and uplifting those impacted by such tragedies.
