On July 30, 2025, a unique blend of tradition and rock history stunned crowds at Buckingham Palace when the Band of the Coldstream Guards played Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” during the Changing of the Guard. The tribute honored Ozzy Osbourne, who died on July 22 at age 76. Dressed in their iconic red jackets and bearskin hats, the Guards surprised onlookers with a heavy metal classic rarely heard in royal settings. The moment quickly went viral after About London posted a video online, receiving over 100,000 views and hundreds of emotional comments.

One viewer wrote, “This is awesome. Proudest I’ve felt of this country for about 15 years.” Others praised the performance as “unique,” “powerful,” and “pure respect.”

Founded in 1650, the Coldstream Guards are the oldest regiment in the British Army. Their band, formed in 1685, has played around the world, but this tribute stood out for merging royal tradition with rock legend—a fusion many believe Ozzy would have loved.

The performance coincided with a major public memorial in Birmingham, Ozzy’s hometown. Thousands gathered for a funeral procession that passed the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, led by Bostin’s Brass band. Photos showed the Osbourne family visibly moved by the turnout.

Birmingham had already begun honoring its hero. A day after his death, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performed Osbourne’s songs in the Bullring shopping center, calling it a tribute to “one of Birmingham’s own.”

BBC Radio WM’s Ed James remembered Ozzy as “a working-class kid from Aston who went looking for a good time—and found it.” Fans across the UK agreed that the Coldstream Guards’ tribute was a fitting farewell to the Prince of Darkness.