Dolly Parton Honored By Royal Family With Moving Tribute
on
The Aug. 25 death of country music icon Dolly Parton, who was 80 years old, has already inspired countless tributes, reflecting how beloved a figure the “Queen of Country” was.
President Donald Trump ordered flags at half-staff for a week in her honor, and many elected officials, including the likes of House Speaker Mike Johnson, have expressed how meaningful she was to American culture.
However, the loss of Dolly Parton is not just being felt in the United States.
Just over the pond, the Royal Family of Great Britain honored her legacy in a very unique and special way.
RELATED: Dolly Parton’s Nephew Reveals Her Final Resting Place, Beside Husband Carl Dean
The Royal Family Honors Dolly Parton
On Aug. 26, just one day after news of Dolly’s passing, the Royal Family of Great Britain paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla wrote on Instagram, “Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many — including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which was established in 1995, has given out over 300 million free children’s books over the years, with one in seven children in the United States participating in the program as of 2024.
The Imagination Library is also supplying British children with books, with the Imagination Library’s website stating that approximately 45,000 children in the United Kingdom are receiving free books each month.
Concluding the statement, the Royal Family wrote, alluding to Dolly’s 1974 song, “We will always [love] you.”
Attached to this statement was video of the British Army’s Band of the Coldstream Guards and Welsh Guards playing “9 To 5,” the title track penned by Dolly for the 1980 film.
This performance occurred during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
Watch the Coldstream Guards perform their rendition of “9 To 5,” here:
See another angle of the performance, here:
A special tribute to the Queen of Country, @DollyParton.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 26, 2026
From her many friends, fans and admirers across the pond. pic.twitter.com/kcnuAgsVjL
Music, of course, has always been one of the United States’ greatest exports, and it has a way of touching lives, regardless of nation, creed, or social standing.
The music of Dolly Parton
The Time That The Queen Of Country Met The Queen Of England
Back in 1977, Dolly performed for Queen Elizabeth II.
1977 marked Queen Elizabeth II’s 25th year as monarch, and it was celebrated with the Silver Jubilee.
According to The Tennessean, Parton performed in Glasgow, Scotland, for the Royal Variety Show. Other performers included the Jackson 5; Scottish artist Sydney Devine, known for his whistling; and British comedian Frankie Howerd
When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, Dolly shared about that opportunity, describing it is an “honor,” adding that the late monarch “carried herself with grace and strength her entire life.”
Speaking with Business Insider in 2023 about meeting the queen, Dolly recalled, “I was scared to death that I was not going to know how to curtsy, that I wasn’t going to bend right, but she was just very warm, very sweet, and I could tell she was a very giving person. And just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing.”
She added:
“I remember as a child being fascinated with the kings and queens and all their flamboyant clothes, people living in another world with riches and crowns and jewelry and all that. But when I actually got to meet her, she was very sweet.”
See a photo of Dolly Parton meeting Queen Elizabeth II, here:
RELATED: Dolly Parton’s First Gospel Album, ‘The Golden Streets Of Glory,’ Was Released 55 Years Ago
