Music from blockbuster Gladiator boomed over the crowds during the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the royal’s attendance at the world premiere of the film’s sequel.
A mix of hits from films and musicals, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Hairspray and ABBA, were performed on Wednesday 13 November during the traditional military spectacle.
This special soundtrack concert was staged on the day of the monarch’s gala reception at the palace to honor Britain’s film and television industry, and before his red carpet evening at the Royal Film Performance screening of Gladiator II. The Battle, by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, featured in the original Gladiator film to accompany the first fight scene.
The new Guard, the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, marched with the Band and Bugles of The Rifles, from nearby Wellington Barracks to the Palace to take over from the Old Guard.
Songs played included John Williams’ The Symphonic Marches which features the Raiders March from the Indiana Jones film Raiders Of The Lost Ark and the Imperial March from Star Wars. Hairspray’s You Can’t Stop The Beat was also performed, as well as an ABBA medley.
The UK premiere of Gladiator II takes place on Friday 15 November at the Odeon Luxe Cinema in Leicester Square. The film is a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 Roman epic Gladiator, and sees Paul Mescal as Lucius take on Maximus’ legacy in the gladiator ring.
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