Dolly Parton’s influence reached far beyond country music, and just one day after her death, the Royal Family of Great Britain offered a touching tribute to the beloved star.

Dolly died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, leading to an outpouring of tributes from fans, celebrities and public figures around the world. In the United States, President Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for a week in her honor, while lawmakers also remembered her lasting impact on American culture.

But the grief was not limited to the United States.

On Aug. 26, King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute to Dolly through the official Royal Family social media account. Their message highlighted not only her music but also her work helping children through her Imagination Library.

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many,” the Royal Family wrote, also noting the millions of children who have received free books through the program.

 

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Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995. The program has since provided more than 300 million free books to children. It has also expanded to the United Kingdom, where thousands of children receive books each month.

The Royal Family ended its tribute with a heartfelt reference to one of Dolly’s most famous songs: “We will always love you.”

The message was accompanied by a special musical performance at Buckingham Palace. During the Changing of the Guard, musicians from the Band of the Coldstream Guards and Welsh Guards performed Dolly’s hit song 9 To 5.

The tribute was a powerful reminder of just how far Dolly’s music and charitable work reached. Her songs crossed borders, while her efforts to help children created a legacy that went far beyond the stage.

Dolly Parton once performed for Queen Elizabeth II

Dolly’s connection with the British Royal Family goes back decades.

In 1977, she performed in Glasgow, Scotland, as part of the Royal Variety Show during Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. The event also featured the Jackson 5, Scottish performer Sydney Devine and comedian Frankie Howerd.

Years later, Dolly looked back on her meeting with Queen Elizabeth II with great warmth.

After the queen died in 2022, Dolly described meeting her as an honor and praised the late monarch for carrying herself with grace and strength throughout her life.

Dolly also recalled being nervous before meeting the queen, especially because she was worried about getting the proper curtsy. However, she remembered Elizabeth as warm and kind.

For Dolly, meeting the queen was also a childhood dream come true.

As a young girl, she had been fascinated by kings and queens, their crowns, jewelry and glamorous clothes. Meeting Queen Elizabeth in person, she said, was an amazing experience.

Now, nearly five decades after that memorable meeting, the Royal Family has returned the gesture by honoring Dolly’s life and legacy.

From her music to her generosity, Dolly Parton touched millions of lives around the world. Her passing has left a huge loss for country music, but tributes like this show that her legacy reaches far beyond one genre, one country or one generation.