Dolly Parton's hit song 9 To 5 sounded out at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning as the Changing the Guard ceremony paid tribute to the Queen of country music. The Band of the Coldstream Guards performed one of the superstar's most popular songs in her honour, following her death aged 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
Scores of tourists gathered at the railings of the royal residence in London, where the special instrumental addition to the historic ceremony echoed around the forecourt.
Royal tribute on social media
Footage of the performance was shared on the royal family's official social media channels, accompanied by a message: “Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many – including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always (heart) you.”
The King and Queen, who are away on their annual summer break at Balmoral, were not in residence, with the union flag flying over the Palace rather than the Royal Standard.
Queen's charity honours Parton's legacy
Camilla's charity The Queen's Reading Room praised Parton as an “icon” for her Imagination Library. In an Instagram story, the charity said: “Today we remember and celebrate the unwavering advocate for the joy and importance of reading – the icon, Dolly Parton.”
The organisation added: “Dolly once said: You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children – but she gave it a pretty good go, donating more than 300 million books over 30+ years through her Imagination Library.
“By putting so many books into the hands of so many children, she gave the most precious of gifts: the chance to millions of young minds of opening the door to imagination, possibility and a lifelong love of reading. Thank you, Dolly!”
Ceremony details
The new guard, Number 12 Company Irish Guards, in their red tunics and bearskin hats, marched with the Band of the Coldstream Guards from nearby Wellington Barracks to the Palace to take over the duty from the old guard.
