Ozzy Osbourne received a royal sendoff like no other. On the day of the heavy metal icon’s funeral procession, King Charles’ Army Band paid tribute with a powerful performance of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The touching moment, captured on TikTok, quickly went viral.
A Farewell Fit for Rock Royalty
The Changing of the Guard is a long-standing tradition in which one group of soldiers (the “Old Guard”) is relieved by another (the “New Guard”), all while a military band performs. This time, the Prince of Darkness received a salute befitting royalty.
The performance took place on the same day as Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, where thousands lined the streets to say goodbye. The emotional public turnout mirrored the national mourning seen during the passing of British royals.
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Osbourne, who died on July 22 at age 76, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003. Just weeks before his passing, he performed from a throne at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5 in his hometown of Birmingham.
“That show meant everything,” a source told People magazine. “It brought his career full circle.”
Ozzy’s Ties to the Royal Family
(Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince William (L) talks with Dame Shirley Bassey (2nd L) as Ozzy Osbourne (2nd R) stands with Prince Harry (R) on stage at the finale of “Party at the Palace” in London 03 June 2002.
Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t a stranger to the royal circle. In 2002, he performed at the “Party at the Palace” during Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee, and again met King Charles (then Prince Charles) in 2006 at a reception for The Prince’s Trust at Clarence House.
Following Charles’s ascension in 2022, Ozzy praised the new monarch in an interview with The New York Post:
“He’s a very, very nice man. He’s always treated me with the utmost respect,” Ozzy said. “In fact, when I had my bike accident [in 2003], he sent me a bottle of scotch… I wish him all the best.”
Laid to Rest at Home in Buckinghamshire
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 30: (L-R) Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, and Kelly Osbourne arrive to view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy was laid to rest in a private ceremony on the grounds of his Buckinghamshire estate, beside a peaceful lake on the property he shared with Sharon Osbourne since 1993.
The UK Sun reported that surrounded by 110 of his closest family & friends, including Sharon, children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis (his son with Thelma Riley), the ceremony was heartfelt and deeply personal.
A floral wreath placed by the lake read: “Ozzy f*ing Osbourne,” prompting both smiles and tears. Another tribute by the water simply spelled out “Ozzy.” “Ozzy wanted his final place of rest to be at home, and he is buried at a beautiful point on the lake,” a family friend shared.