Buckingham Palace honored Dolly Parton with a moving musical tribute on Wednesday morning, one day after the country singer’s death.

During the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the military band performed Parton’s hit song “9 to 5” in remembrance of her, as reported by Page Six.

King Charles and Queen Camilla shared footage from the ceremony on social media, bringing the Buckingham Palace moment to their followers.

 

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Their post paired the band’s performance with a message celebrating the joy, comfort and inspiration Parton gave to so many people.

The caption also singled out Parton’s Imagination Library and the millions of children who received free books through the program.

In doing so, the royal message connected her music with the generosity remembered following her death.

The royals concluded their message with a direct reference to another of Parton’s iconic releases, writing, “We will always ❤️ you.”

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That brief closing gave the tribute another personal nod to the music associated with the late singer.

Viewers responded warmly in the comments beneath the footage. Social media users called the performance “wonderfully done” and “perfect,” while many wrote that it “brought [them] to tears.”

The reaction reflected the emotional weight of a military band playing “9 to 5” at Buckingham Palace so soon after the announcement. The ceremony offered a royal remembrance centered squarely on Parton’s music.

Parton’s nephew announced her death at 80 in an emotional video on Tuesday. Her representatives later confirmed to Page Six that she had been “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”

The representatives’ statement said Parton died surrounded by loved ones. It then emphasized the joy, hope, integrity, and generosity she brought to others throughout her life and career.

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” the statement continued.

It added, “Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand.”

That statement echoed the themes in the royal family’s post, which also emphasized Parton’s joy and the reach of her generosity.

Buckingham Palace specifically noted the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library.

Parton had first hinted at her “health challenges” last year, although she did not give fans additional details at the time. She also made headlines for canceling multiple appearances.

Days before her death, the Grammy winner discussed her health in her final interview with People.

She said, “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband], Carl [Thomas Dean].”

Carl Thomas Dean had died in March 2025 at 82 years old following an undisclosed prolonged illness. At the time of his death, he and Parton had been married for nearly 59 years.

Parton later addressed her grief in a May 2025 conversation with “Entertainment Tonight.” Speaking about Dean, the “Hannah Montana” alum said she would “miss him … for the rest of my life.”

She also described the difficulty of adjusting after nearly 59 years with her husband. Parton said, “I’m having to really go through a lot trying to figure out how to be without him because I was with him for so long.”

Those comments gave a candid account of the grief Parton was carrying after Dean’s death. Her final People interview then connected her own health issues with the time she had spent watching over him.

Against that recent history, Wednesday’s ceremony kept its focus on Parton’s music and charitable reach. The band performed “9 to 5,” while the accompanying royal message highlighted the comfort and inspiration she provided.

The result was a concise but emotional remembrance from King Charles and Queen Camilla.

With footage of the Buckingham Palace performance and a loving musical reference in the caption, the royals joined those honoring Parton after her death.

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