The Royal Guards in Amalienborg Palace Square paid tribute to Queen Mary to celebrate her first birthday in her new role.
During the changing of the guard on Mary’s 52nd birthday, fans watched as the band played a cover of the Bee Gees’ 1977 hit How Deep Is Your Love?
Royal experts speculated that musical director Michael Thomsen selected the ‘classic love ballad’ because of the Bee Gees’ affinity for Australia and Mary’s love for Robbie Williams, whose former band Take That covered the song in the 1990s.
Hundreds of people flocked to Copenhagen Palace hoping to see the Queen to wish her a happy birthday, but instead were treated to a performance by the Royal Guards.
Thomsen chooses the musical program for the changing of the guard each day and Danish tabloid BT’s music critic Kristian Dam Nygaard has theories about why he chose the classic love song for the Queen’s birthday.
The Royal Life Guards paid tribute to Queen Mary’s 52nd birthday last Monday by playing the Bee Gees hit song How Deep is Your Love during the changing of the guard procession.
Musical director Michael Thomsen selected the song because of the Bee Gees’ affinity with Australia and Mary’s love of Robbie Williams, whose band Take That covered the number.
‘The Bee Gees lived for a period in Australia, so there is a reference to Queen Mary, just as she is known to be a fan of Robbie Williams, who was in Take That,’ he said.
“In that way, there’s a fun connection, but at the same time, it seems a little strange with a bittersweet song where questions are asked about how much love is involved. It doesn’t make much sense on a birthday.
Last Monday’s changing of the guard ceremony was not out of the ordinary, however the guards were dressed in red dress uniforms.
The procession usually lasts about 50 minutes and the marching band plays three songs for the crowd.
Dam Nygaard thought the Bee Gees number was an unusual choice for Queen Mary’s birthday.
“I probably would have chosen to play a song that paid tribute exclusively to the birthday person, like ‘Isn’t She Love’ or ‘Can’t Take My Eyes of You,'” he said.