The Queen of Country is being honored at the seat of King Charles.
The Band of the Coldstream Guards paid tribute to Dolly Parton, who died Aug. 25 at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, with a performance of “9 to 5” at Buckingham Palace, the central headquarters of the monarchy in London, during the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.
Though King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla were not in residence amid their summer break, the royal family’s social media accounts shared footage of the performance, with a tribute to Parton.
“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,” read the caption. “We will always you.”
Camilla’s charity The Queen’s Reading Room also praised Parton as an “unwavering advocate for the joy and importance of reading.”
“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,” the organization wrote on social media. “Thank you, Dolly!”
Parton has a bit of history with the British royals. She met Queen Elizabeth II back in 1977 at an event in Glasgow, Scotland, held to celebrate the monarch’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, which marked 25 years on the British throne. She later told the Glasgow Times that her management had kept it a secret that she would be performing for the queen during her time in the United Kingdom.
“When they told me on the plane I was appearing in front of the queen, I just jumped up and down telling everyone,” Parton said. “When I was a little girl, I grew up in a world of kings and queens and princes and princesses in fairy tales. Now I’m going to meet one.”
She called the meeting “one of the biggest thrills of my life.”
Marking the monarch’s death in September 2022, Parton shared a photo of the moment, writing that Elizabeth “carried herself with grace and strength her entire life.”
Dolly Parton cancer revealed, funeral plans shared
The country icon had been battling cancer before her death, her representatives confirmed to USA TODAY on Aug. 25. “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her representatives said in a statement.
A private memorial service will be held for immediate family, according to Parton’s representative. Fans who would like to pay tribute are encouraged to tag @DollyParton on socials or leave a message at dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at imaginationlibrary.com.
In a video message to fans, Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew, said Parton requested to be laid to rest “in a beautiful bed of plush cotton, because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”
“May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you,” he added.
Contributing: Jennifer Hassan and Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY