King Charles III honored the late Tina Turner, known as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with a musical tribute after she passed away on Wednesday. The newly crowned monarch allowed the Band of the Welsh Guards to perform her 1989 hit “The Best” during the changing of the guard in front of Buckingham Palace on Friday. The group was joined by the First Battalion Welsh Guards Corps of Drums, for the centuries-old ceremony, where the King’s Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Palace to the New Guard.
The musical tribute is not just a way to honor a legendary singer but also to commemorate the King’s personal relationship with Turner. Charles, 74, first met the singer in 1986 when she performed at the Prince’s Trust All-Star Rock Concert at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The song “The Best” holds a special place in the hearts of other members of the royal family as well. In a December 2021 episode of Apple Fitness+’s “Time to Walk” series, Prince William revealed that his mother, Princess Diana, would play the track for him and his brother, Prince Harry, while driving them back to boarding school.
William, who was 15 when Diana died in 1997, shared that “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’ because sitting in the backseat, singing away, it felt like a real family moment. And my mother, she’d be driving along, singing at the top of her voice.”
“We’d even get the policeman [security] in the car: he’d occasionally be singing along as well. We’d be singing and listening to the music right the way up to the gates at school where they dropped you off. When I listen to it now, it takes me back to those car rides and brings back lots of memories of my mother,” he added.
Turner died earlier this week at the age of 83 of natural causes. Her passing has been mourned by a host of celebrities, including Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Cher, and Angela Bassett, who shared their memories of the “Proud Mary” singer on social media. Several stars, such as Beyoncé and Lizzo, also honored the legend on stage.
The tribute by King Charles III has brought to light the emotional and personal connection that many people have with Tina Turner and her music. The performance of “The Best” at Buckingham Palace serves not only as a memorial for the legendary singer but also as a reminder of the power of music to connect people across generations and cultures.
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