The UK's 1,173 firefighters killed in the line of duty were honoured on 16 September 2003 in a service and ceremony of rededication attended by The Princess Royal.

Her Royal Highness is Patron of the Firefighters' Memorial Charitable Trust, which organised the service, held in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Firefighters throughout Britain who had lost their lives in active duty during times of war and peace were honoured for their courage and sacrifice during the 45-minute service.

The service was attended by London Fire Commissioner Ken Knight and senior members of the London Fire Brigade in addition to serving and past firefighters. There were also representatives from various UK fire brigades as well as ambassadors and high commissioners from around the world. Members of staff from the London Fire Brigade acted as stewards during the service.

At the end of the service, The Princess Royal was invited to sign the Firefighters' Memorial Charitable Trust visitors' book, before proceeding to the memorial area, situated across the road from the south door of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Her Royal Highness walked across to the memorial, speaking to some of the relatives of the firefighters being honoured, who had gathered together to attend the service and watch the rededication ceremony.

The memorial was first unveiled in 1991 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as a tribute to those men and women who fought so gallantly against fire on the streets of London during the Blitz, when the capital was struck by bombs on 57 consecutive nights in a sustained campaign of bombing that was to strike terror into the hearts of the population. It also served as a monument to commemorate the service of firefighters throughout the Second World War. 

It was decided to make the Blitz memorial into a national monument that would commemorate the lives of all firefighters throughout the United Kingdom who have lost their lives during active duty. The statue, by John W. Mills was elevated onto a bronze plinth and now bears the names of all firefighters who have lost their lives since the Blitz and the Second World War.

Under blue skies, the Princess took her wreath and laid it at the foot of the national memorial, before a lone bagpiper played a lament. Attached to the wreath was a card bearing the inscription:  'In memory of all firefighters killed on duty' and signed simply: 'Anne'.

London Fire Commissoner Ken Knight spoke for the fire brigade in general when he said: "This is an important event in our calendar, giving us the chance to remember our lost colleagues and reflect on the sacrifices they made in the line of duty."

It was Winston Churchill who had famously paid tribute to the 'heros with grimy faces'. This tribute is embodied by the statue that now stands in the shadow of St. Paul's Cathedral, serving as a permanent reminder of the brave work undertaken by men and women of the fire service on a daily basis on behalf of the public at large.