King Charles’ Guards Surprise Crowd with Unique Rendition of Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ to Honor Ozzy Osbourne
via about.london / TikTok
A Metal Tribute Outside Buckingham Palace
On July 30, crowds at Buckingham Palace were surprised when the Band of the Coldstream Guards performed Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” during the traditional Changing of the Guard. The tribute came shortly after the death of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne.
Fan footage posted to TikTok captured the moment, showing the guards playing the classic song outside the gates of the palace. Viewers were moved by the performance, with one commenter writing, “This is awesome. Proudest I’ve felt of this country for about 15 years.” Another added, “This is Britishness at its best. RIP Ozzy.”
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Honoring Ozzy on the Day of His Funeral
The tribute took place on the same day as Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, England. Crowds lined the streets to say goodbye, in scenes that reminded many of the public mourning seen after the death of a royal.
The Changing of the Guard is a ceremony in which the “Old Guard” hands over duties to the “New Guard,” usually set to music by a military band. This time, the performance carried deeper meaning, celebrating the life of one of Britain’s most influential rockers.
Watch the video below:
@about.london 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 ♬ original sound – about.london
Ozzy’s Health Struggles and Final Performance
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 at the age of 76. He had battled Parkinson’s disease for years after being diagnosed in 2003. Just weeks before his death, on July 5, he performed from a throne at the Black Sabbath farewell concert in Birmingham, a show that many fans now see as a fitting final act.
A Long Connection with the Royal Family
Over the years, Osbourne had several encounters with the British royal family. In 2002, he performed at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebration at Buckingham Palace. In 2006, he met then-Prince Charles at Clarence House during an event for The Prince’s Trust.
Following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022, Osbourne showed support for King Charles. Speaking with The New York Post, he said, “He’s a very, very nice man. He’s always treated me with the utmost respect.” He also recalled, “In fact, when I had my bike accident, he sent me a bottle of scotch… I wish him all the best.”
