Charles III might be the King of England, but Ozzy Osbourne will always be the Prince of Darkness. And in honor of the rock legend’s life and legacy following his death July 22, the Royal Family’s official army band put its own spin on one of Black Sabbath‘s biggest hits.
In a video filmed during a recent Changing of the Guard ceremony, the red-uniformed musicians stand in an arc outside of Buckingham Palace. With a conductor keeping time, the brass and woodwind instrumentalists play the melody of “Paranoid” — which reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 — over the sound of brash snare drums.
The tribute comes after Osbourne died at the age of 76 just weeks after playing his final concert, as announced in a joint statement from his family. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” it read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
In the days since, posts honoring the icon have flooded social media, including condolences penned by all of his former Black Sabbath bandmates. On Wednesday (July 30), Osbourne’s funeral procession took place in his home city of Birmingham, England, where fans lined the streets to pay tribute. His wife, Sharon, and his children Aimeé, Kelly and Jack laid flowers on the Black Sabbath bridge, which was adorned with countless other offerings from mourners.
Charles has been putting the army band to good use since he took the throne in May 2023 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Earlier in July, for instance, the ensemble performed Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” in honor of Pride.
The performances align with the king’s love of music, which he showcased earlier this year with the launch of his Apple Music radio show, The King’s Music Room. “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” he said in a March statement. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories, comfort us in times of sadness and take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration.”
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