Buckingham Palace Guards Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton With ‘9 to 5’ During Changing the Guard
On Wednesday, Dolly Parton’s iconic song “9 to 5” resonated through Buckingham Palace as the Changing the Guard ceremony honored the beloved country music star, who passed away at the age of 80. The Band of the Coldstream Guards performed the instrumental version, delighting numerous tourists who gathered at the Palace railings to witness this special tribute echo across the forecourt.
At the time, King Charles and Queen Camilla were not present, as they were away on their annual summer retreat at Balmoral. The Union flag was displayed over the Palace instead of the Royal Standard. The Royal Family’s official account also shared a heartfelt tribute online, stating, “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 love you.”
Camilla’s charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, also paid tribute, recognizing Parton as an “icon” for her lifelong commitment to literacy advocacy. In an Instagram statement, the organization said, “Today we remember and celebrate the unwavering advocate for the joy and importance of reading — the icon, Dolly Parton.”
The charity highlighted that Parton had donated over 300 million books in more than 30 years through her Imagination Library, emphasizing that by providing so many books to countless children, she gifted them “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.”
Parton passed away on Tuesday after what her family described as a brief battle with cancer. The tribute at Buckingham Palace is part of a wider wave of remembrances from around the globe, including the Empire State Building in New York City, which illuminated its tower in pink on Tuesday night to honor her legacy. This ceremony continues a longstanding royal tradition of musically commemorating the lives of significant cultural figures.
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