GB News host Tom Harwood was left visibly confused as the Welsh Guard and Italian military bands chose a particularly peculiar song to play as they awaited King Charles’s arrival at an event in Italy.
The monarch and Queen Camilla are set to visit Rome’s Colosseum after meeting President Sergio Mattarella, marking the beginning of their four-day state visit.
However, Good Afternoon Britain host Tom Harwood was baffled as Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker shared details of the King’s visit, with the bands playing an iconic theme tune in the background.
Tom interrupted Cameron as he asked, astonished: “Is that the Star Wars theme in the background there?!”
Tom Harwood was left baffled as the British and Italian military bands played the Star Wars theme tune
GB News / Reuters
Startled by the choice of music, Tom highlighted: “Is that the theme from a film series about a republic defeating an empire? Is there a message there?”
Amused by Tom’s question, Cameron then revealed: “Well, Tom, you missed out earlier because they were also playing ABBA’s Waterloo too, so there’s been a battle theme in terms of the songs that they are playing.
“I think the band of the Welsh Guards is known for playing tunes which are going to be easily recognisable by crowds from across the world, so I think that’s why they’re choosing these kind of tunes.”
Co-host Emily also reacted to the choice of music, admitting: “I thought we might get some beautiful Italian opera or something like that?”
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The King and Queen have begun their four-day state visit to Italy
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Noting the scale of the event set up for the King’s arrival, Tom observed that the venue of the Colosseum looked “fantastic”.
He told Cameron: “It does look absolutely fantastic and does sound fantastic, too – and we can hear the crowd really appreciating what is going on there.”
Detailing more on the event, Cameron responded: “The bands have struck up again ahead of the King and Queen’s arrival. We think they’re slightly delated – perhaps their lunch has gone on slightly too long.
“But the crowds got very, very excited when a motorcade swooped in just in front of the Colosseum, but it turned out it was Foreign Secretary David Lammy instead.”
Tom questioned if there was a ‘theme’ to the band’s music choices as they awaited the King’s arrival
GB News
Discussing the “soft power” the King will be displaying on his 18th state visit to Italy, Cameron concluded: “Don’t forget that it is the UK Government that sends the King on these visits to strengthen relations between two nations, so politicians like David Lammy, Prime Minister Meloni and others can sit down for political discussions.
“But what we’re seeing this afternoon is that kind of pomp and pageantry and that soft power in action. It’s that kind of welcome, it’s those kind of memories, as the UK ambassador was telling us yesterday, that sticks in people’s memories for a generation essentially.”
He added: “This is the 18th official visit of the of the King to Italy, but of course this is the first time that he has been here as King. Tomorrow he’s also going to become the first British monarch in history to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament here.
“Perhaps it is emphasising and kind of showing us the respect that the Italian lawmakers have for King Charles, five years on from Brexit.”
