A Royal Salute to Ozzy Osbourne: Buckingham Palace Guards Honor the Prince of Darkness

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In a moment that perfectly blended rock and royalty, King Charles’ soldiers paid a touching tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne — and fans around the world are still talking about it.

Tourists and domestic visitors at Buckingham Palace watch in huge numbers as Changing of the Guard takes place of the King's Guard comprised of Coldstream Guards, the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards on 9th July 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

On July 30, just days after Ozzy’s passing, the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace featured something truly unexpected: a powerful military band performance of “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath. The Band of the Coldstream Guards, known for their precision and tradition, delivered the heavy metal anthem in full ceremonial uniform — and the crowd loved it.

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The Band of the Coldstream Guards perform “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath at Changing of the Guard today. RIP to Ozzy Osbourne the “Prince of Darkness” #guard #kingsguard #ozzyosbourne #blacksabbath #paranoid #heavymetal #rockband #london #buckinghampalace #fyp

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Fan-shot video of the moment quickly went viral on TikTok, with one viewer writing, “This is the proudest I’ve felt of Britain in 15 years.” Another simply said, “This is Britishness at its best. RIP Ozzy.”

The tribute happened on the same day as Ozzy’s funeral procession in Birmingham, where thousands of fans lined the streets to say goodbye to the heavy metal legend. For many, it felt like the kind of farewell usually reserved for royalty — fitting for a man known as the Prince of Darkness.

Though Ozzy’s public persona was all rock ‘n’ roll, his connection to the royal family was surprisingly warm. He performed at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, and later met King Charles at a charity event at Clarence House in 2006.

Following the King’s accession to the throne in 2022, Ozzy spoke with genuine admiration for the monarch, telling The New York Post:
“He’s a very, very nice man. He’s always treated me with the utmost respect. When I had my bike accident, he even sent me a bottle of scotch… I wish him all the best.”

Mourners and music fans line the streets to pay their respects as the funeral cortege of Ozzy Osbourne, the late lead singer of Black Sabbath, makes its way through Birmingham, central England on July 30, 2025.

A Career That Came Full Circle

Ozzy passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, nearly two decades after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Just a few weeks earlier, on July 5, he performed in Birmingham for what would become his final concert — sitting on a throne as he sang in his hometown.

“That show meant everything,” a family source shared. “It brought his career full circle.”

From wild stage antics to royal nods, Ozzy Osbourne’s life was anything but ordinary. And now, even in death, he’s being honored in the most unexpected ways — including a regal salute from the guards at Buckingham Palace.

It’s not every day you hear heavy metal echoing through royal gates. But then again, there’s only one Ozzy Osbourne.

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