Queen’s ‘thoughtful’ tribute to Martin Luther King Jr at Buckingham Palace dubbed ‘amazingly sweet’ by fans

The Queen’s ‘thoughtful’ tribute on Martin Luther King Day has been ‘very much appreciated’...

The Queen's 'thoughtful' tribute to Martin Luther King Jr on Martin Luther King Day
(Image credit: Future // Image 1: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images // Image 2: Bettmann via Getty)

The Queen has paid “thoughtful” tribute to the late Martin Luther King Jr at Buckingham Palace and fans were quick to express their appreciation for the “amazingly sweet” honor.


The Queen might not be residing at Buckingham Palace at the moment, but this magnificent home was the site of an incredibly “beautiful” tribute for Martin Luther King Day 2022. This is held every year on the third Monday of January and is a federal holiday in the United States. Though Dr King’s actual birthday was January 15th, MLK Day is a time for all to remember him and his unwavering commitment to combating racial inequality through non-violent activism. He was assassinated at the age of just 39 in 1968 though his legacy and memory continues to inspire people across the world.  

This year’s MLK Day fell on January 17th and in honor of this important anniversary, the Queen paid “thoughtful” tribute to Dr King in the most wonderful way with a very special Grenadier Guards performance. 

Martin Luther King Jr., gives his "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd before the Lincoln Memorial during the Freedom March in Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963

(Image credit: Bettmann via Getty)

Though currently living at Windsor Castle in Berkshire where she and the late Prince Philip spent much of 2021, Her Majesty’s principal royal residence remains her London home. Buckingham Palace is often seen as one of the symbols of the British monarchy and is a huge focal point for fans, making her decision to show her respect for Dr King here all the more important.

Posting on this momentous day, the Royal Family social media accounts declared, “🎶 To mark #MLKDay, the Band of the @grenadier.guards play Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday’ at today’s Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace”. 

Alongside this heartfelt caption was a video capturing this emotional tribute, as the Grenadier Guards proudly played the song outside the iconic Palace. 

And the brilliant tribute has been met with overwhelming praise from royal fans, who have dubbed the Grenadier Guards’ performance as both “thoughtful” and “beautiful”. 

“This is beautiful ❤️❤️ thank u for this beautiful tribute to MLK”, one person warmly declared.

A second person agreed, replying, “Awe that’s so sweet and very much appreciated ❤️”. 

“This is unbelievably thoughtful and awesome!” another fan shared.

“That's so amazingly sweet.. Brilliant ❤️👏”, someone else added. 

A Bearer Party of Grenadier Guards carry Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin

(Image credit: Photo by Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images)

It seems that the Queen’s “thoughtful” tribute to Martin Luther King Jr was very much appreciated by many royal fans on this important day. The Changing of the Guards marks the moment of exchange between the palaces’ on and off-duty soldiers and earlier this year the tradition returned to Buckingham Palace with a special Spandau Ballet performance after being paused during Covid-19.  Whilst the Grenadier Guards also played a significant role in the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021, bearing his coffin to and from St George's Chapel. 

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!