Brief History: Ground Zero Visits

  • John Stillwell / PA Photos / Landov

    Queen Elizabeth placed a wreath at the site before meeting victims' families and first responders

    In her first trip to New York City since 1976, Queen Elizabeth II became the latest dignitary to visit the site of America's worst terrorist attack. After speaking at the U.N. on July 6, the British monarch, 84, in signature fancy hat and pearls, traveled to lower Manhattan to lay a wreath at Ground Zero and officially open a nearby garden in memory of the 67 Britons killed on Sept. 11, 2001. She wasn't the first member of the royal family to pay her respects. Her sons Princes Charles and Andrew (as well as grandson Prince Harry) had previously done the honors.

    The Queen's visit to Ground Zero is of an increasingly rare sort. The only other high-profile drop-ins of recent years were in 2008, from Pope Benedict XVI and presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. That's quite a change from the jam-packed weeks immediately following 9/11. President George W. Bush appropriately led the pack with his now historic bullhorn speech to rescue workers on Sept. 14, 2001. What followed was a circus. Everyone from boxing promoter Don King to Miss America Katie Harman (who autographed blank body ID tags) was allowed to enter. The list also included several sports teams, Martha Stewart, cast members of HBO's The Sopranos, Playboy Playmates, and Lance Armstrong, who flew over in a helicopter with former President Bill Clinton. Eventually, citing safety concerns, then mayor Rudy Giuliani called for a halt to celebrity visits.

    Heads of states are still allowed--mostly. City officials drew the line at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In 2007 the President of Iran--which the U.S. State Department lists as one of four state sponsors of terrorism--asked for permission to lay a wreath at Ground Zero. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration responded simply, "Not going to happen." It's doubtful a fancy hat would have helped.