In honour of Black History Month there was a distinctively Caribbean sound during Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on Friday (31 October). This was thanks to the musical brilliance of Army Musician Lance Corporal Kavel Alexander from the Band of the Coldstream Guards.
Kavel, who is from Vieux-Fort in St Lucia, had put aside his usual brass French horn for the day and instead accompanied the traditional changing of the guard ceremony by playing the steel pan drums. The world-famous Band of the Coldstream Guards accompanied him as he performed the Bob Marley classic: Could you be loved. He followed this with crowd pleasers: Africa by Toto and a delightful Caribbean folk song, Santa Lucia, that was arranged by a Director of Music of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band.
A crowd pleaser
The many visitors and hundreds of tourists that flock to watch the ceremonies at the Palace everyday were astounded and delighted, singing along and applauding the performance.
The theme for Black History Month 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that defines the Black community across the globe. This year, the theme highlights the profound contributions made by Black people who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth.
Positive change
Power represents the influence, leadership, and capacity to effect positive change. It acknowledges the visionaries who have led political, civil rights, and social movements, as well as those who have broken barriers in business, education, and the arts. Their legacies remind us that true power is not about titles but about the collective strength, courage, and unity used to forge a more equitable future for all.
Pride reflects cultural identity, heritage, and is a declaration of the beauty, the resilience, and the unmatched contributions of Black culture to the world.
Notting Hill Carnival
Lance Corporal Alexander regularly plays steel pan with civilian groups in his spare time and is a frequent performer at the Notting Hill Carnival. His steel pan skills are highly sought after and he most movingly performed Last Post and Reveille on Steel Pan at the Menin Gate and St George’s Church in Ypres.
Other notable performances by Lance Corporal Alexander include Project All Hallows (an initiative by the West India Committee aimed at highlighting the historical contributions of the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda to the British Armed Forces); at the National Memorial Arboretum for the Royal British Legion; at the RAF Ethnic Minorities Leadership Conference, and at the Soldiering On Awards on 22 October.
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