Buckingham Palace became a stage for a poignant musical tribute on May 26, 2023, as King Charles III honored the recently deceased music legend Tina Turner. The tribute, performed by the Band of the Welsh Guards, took place during the changing of the guard, a centuries-old handover ceremony for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James' Palace.
Turner, revered worldwide for her vocal prowess and electric performances, passed away two days prior on May 24, following a prolonged struggle with several health issues. The bond between the royalty and the rock n' roll queen dates back to 1986 when Turner met then-Prince Charles at an event.
Forces News reports that at the behest of King Charles III, the Welsh Guards performed Turner's classic, "The Best." This performance was augmented by the First Battalion Welsh Guards Corps of Drums, amplifying the significance of the occasion. The Changing Guards Ceremony, a ceremonial changing of the palace guard, transpires with varying frequency, with its occurrence in May limited to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
As per Hello Magazine, Charles' connection with Turner extended to the stage in 1986, with Turner gracing the Prince's Trust All-Star Rock Concert at London's Wembley Stadium.
Yet, the tribute resonated on a more personal level for the King. "The Best," while honoring Turner, was also a favorite song of his late ex-wife, Princess Diana. An episode of Apple Fitness+'s "Time to Walk" series from December 2021, cited by Page Six, revealed that the track often accompanied Diana and her sons' trips to boarding school.
Prince William reminisced about the song's role in their family life, confessing that even today, he enjoys Turner's classic privately. "One of the songs I massively remember and has stuck with me all this time, and I still, to this day, still quite enjoy secretly, is Tina Turner's 'The Best,'" Prince William recalled. He painted a vivid image of a joyful family moment, with Diana at the wheel, belting out the song along with her sons and, occasionally, their security detail.
In memorializing Turner, King Charles III created a tribute that was not only a testament to the late singer's influence but also a poignant recollection of his family's past.
