Royal historian Alexander Larman has criticised the Royal Family's Pride gesture as "trying a bit too hard" following the Coldstream Guards' performance outside Buckingham Palace.
Speaking to GB News, Larman said he was "most surprised" by the band playing Pink Pony Club, adding: "It's not exactly what I had on my bingo card for 2025."
The Royal Family marked Pride in London for the first time in history, sharing a social media post featuring the Household Division band performing outside Buckingham Palace.
The post, made under King Charles III's reign, included "Happy Pride!" with rainbow and sparkle emojis, representing a significant departure from royal tradition.
Larman said he was "most surprised" by the band playing Pink Pony Club
GB NEWS
The Coldstream Guards delivered a "regal rendition" of Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club, an LGBTQ+ anthem, blending traditional military music with contemporary pop.
The performance took place as London's Pride parade prepared to welcome more than a million people to the streets, with 35,000 participants from 500 groups marching through the capital.
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Royal Historian Alexander Larman told GB News: "Well, I think it’s the thing I’ve been most surprised to see this year.
"I mean, the band of the Coldstream Guards playing Pink Pony Club it’s not exactly what I had on my bingo card for 2025. You can look at it one of two ways, and I’ve actually been oscillating ever since I saw it.
"On the one hand, it’s commendable that the Royal Family is making this effort, engaging with Pride and the various issues it raises in a way that’s accessible. It’s quite funny, quite likeable, and clearly a clip designed to go viral.
"On the other hand, I can’t help feeling that having the Coldstream Guards perform at Buckingham Palace singing a song like that is a bit undignified.
"There’s a slight sense that they’re trying a bit too hard to go viral, to show, 'See, we understand these issues too.'
"One thing we should remember is that there has never been an openly gay member of the Royal Family."
He added: "What interests me about the Royal Family in 2025 is that they are very much striving to be inclusive and modern.
"They want to be seen as accessible, as hip. I even think King Charles himself likes to be seen as the 'woke king.'
The Coldstream Guards delivered a "regal rendition" of Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club
X/Royal Family
"Obviously, anything like this especially taking place outside Buckingham Palace itself would have the explicit approval of the King."
The Pride celebrations saw the parade route stretch from Green Park near Hyde Park Corner through Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square, concluding outside Big Ben around 6pm.
Grammy-winning legend Chaka Khan headlined the festivities alongside stars including Titanique's Lauren Drew, Frankie Grande and RuPaul's Drag Race UK icon La Voix across six performance stages.
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