Buckingham Palace Honors Patrick Stewart… by Playing the Wrong Star Trek Theme Music
Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed actor renowned for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in Marvel’s X-Men films, passed away Thursday at age 86. The announcement prompted immediate tributes from colleagues across both the Star Trek and Marvel franchises, who shared condolences and memories of the celebrated performer.
In an effort to honor Stewart’s legacy, Buckingham Palace arranged a tribute on Friday featuring a performance by the Band of the Grenadier Guards. The gesture took an unintentionally humorous turn, however, when the military band played the wrong Star Trek theme music—a mix-up that evoked the famous meme of Captain Picard’s exasperated expression with his hand against his forehead.
The incident provided an accidental moment of levity during the broader remembrance of Stewart’s significant contributions to entertainment. His portrayal of Picard became iconic in science fiction culture, and his extensive career in both television and film earned widespread recognition and respect from peers across the industry.