Awaiting the sunset aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, Limassol Port, 1 July 2021

[@adetarrant9806]

Big Lizzie Very Definitely Needs her own Royal Marines Band on board, Especially on her maiden deployment

[@noodles169]

They should make that band walk the plank

[@donaldwilliams9220]

Concur

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

The band is about the worst show I've ever witnessed, my primary school band would have performed better!

[@mrkey1003]

Almost a dusk till dawn moment when lets kill the etc etc...Gathered my thoughts anyway and wrote up top mate. They need to practice that was shockingly bad.

[@stephensmith4480]

@@JaySmith-nd7ij I thought that I was the Worlds worst Musician, This has given me hope beyond belief 🙏 and I`m British.

[@stevenbowers4164]

Ships volunteer band, as in if you ever picked up an instrument you have volunteered, unfortunately we don't have alot of RM bands anymore

[@jamieweyndling1861]

Desperately need a Royal Marine band onboard. That was embarrassing!

[@paulmcgee1867]

Must be on holiday

[@psotos]

Agreed!

[@spaceskipster4412]

They're probably on an American Carrier... 🤦🏼‍♂️ 😂

[@freebeerfordworkers]

My thoughts exactly performed by a Royal Marine band with bugles it is the most moving military ceremony in the world.

[@woolyimage]

It did get a bit better at the end but to begin with it was very disappointing

[@dazag73]

They played all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order 😳

[@TheMVberyl]

That's a "Morecombe & Wise" line from the time they guested Andre Previn

[@davidwilliams9804]

Can't understand why such a high profile Commission doesn't have a Royal Marine Band on. Opportunity missed I think.

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

Too much like common sense... not common any more!

[@MetaView7]

simple reason -- can't afford one

[@freebeerfordworkers]

@@MetaView7 I read even the army bands are being cut down to the minimum number of musicians and the army school of music at Kneller Hall was sold years ago.

[@lwinaus8810]

More to the point…. Why are there NO Royal Marines? Those young folks with the Royal Navy Honour Guard are US Marines…. Corporals and Sergeants….. I spent 10 years in the US Marines and they stand out against the sea of sailor white……

[@spaceskipster4412]

Marvellous to see our friends on Parade with us at Sunset. The Captain will be sending the band to the galley. 48 hours of peeling potatoes followed by 5 days in the rehearsal room with the Ship's cat until it stops climbing the walls. 😂

[@charlestellis7021]

Sunset party to muster, loved sunset and colours 👍

[@truemanofkent]

I agree Jamie, the Queen would not be amused.

[@justincase6645]

Cant believe that !! How things have changed, and not for the better im afraid Invincible days beat retreat was a Royal Marine affair and brought tears to your eyes, This did too ! , strangely for a completely different reason Anyone remember Sooty , Sweep and Sue ? They had a band !

[@johnginniver4220]

It's nice to get the local infant school music class involved 👌

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

They'd have provided a better show!

[@grizw0ld]

If any RFAs or other supply vessels are heading to the Eastern Med please find room for a small det from RM Band Service. It's not long since we saw the last passing out parade from Band School, and I'm sure at least some of the newly-qualified Musns would welcome the chance to get some sea time. No criticism of the shipboard volunteers, who obviously did their best - but nothing can compare with the full Sunset with RM Band. I first saw it on board HMS Bulwark in 1970 - and I'm sure that every time we watch Sunset it brings tears to the eyes of everyone with a family member in the service.

[@songsmith31a]

One can only wonder just how many times those plaintive strains have echoed around the world over past centuries.

[@stephaniebarr507]

As someone just said, need an RM band or sure can’t believe there is not one aboard QE on this first commission.

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

The strike group deployment has been absolutely riveting and flawless , until now ?

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

It was embarrassing! Also wonder why so many girls is there a shortage of men in the employment pool?!

[@arkl1ght258]

@@JaySmith-nd7ij you are aware that women can serve in the navy?

[@TheBritishEmpire920]

@@JaySmith-nd7ij just say you’re sexist mate, saves your time 😂

[@cycleSCUBA]

They did their very best. Glory to the lads lasses of the R.N. 🇬🇧

[@KumaBean]

One time when I was an Army Cadet, we were on a naval base and playing football and just having a laugh, then these guys started playing the Bugle at sunset, and we had no idea of the significance, we were Artillery and weren’t familiar with Naval protocol or traditions. Man, did we get screamed and shouted at, lol 🤝 🍻

[@Trimtank]

US marines.....on a RN ship doing sunset......interesting.

[@Autofleet4429]

Part of the USMC Air Squadron embarked

[@XKXOUzy5E9]

Shouldn't the guard be facing the Ensign in the Salute?....great to see the Americans getting stuck in, friends and allies forever.

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

Not sure about "Forever" the country, like the entire Western World is about 1 second to midnight right now, you may have missed that.

[@jwadaow]

@@JaySmith-nd7ij very true. What the hell is going on?

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

@@JaySmith-nd7ij Utter tosh.

[@PasstheDalek]

If they face the Ensign, we will only see their backsides which won't be very exciting.

[@n6nvr]

Yes.

[@chrisgrant1293]

Genuine question: the guard do the General Salute AFTER the ensign has lowered. Any ideas please?

[@theedwardsification]

The flagmen were early. Probably briefed to lower as the music played, but nor briefed which piece of music. It should have been lowered when Sunset was played when the guard salutes.

[@terryb8310]

Shocking!

[@Jackel7]

We know who will be polishing the brass next week.

[@stainlesssteelrat2821]

That band sounded like the band in the Godfather when he goes back to Sicily

[@andrewabel3927]

There should have been one of the Royal Marine Bands on board during this important world mission.

[@Fishingadventureuk]

So nice to let the deaf band play

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

So proud of our boys and girls and their US commerades.

[@stephenmuir5030]

Is that the mast of USS The Sullivans poking up behind the deck?

[@rogersnelling1368]

Glad I joined 1972, D12995.. Sir

[@robertofranciscor.beltran5588]

The band will perfect it eventually but no Navy is more glorious than the Royal Navy.

[@Trimtank]

Well done to the band and the crew. Somber music.!

[@mehsansaeed]

Wonder who the guard presented arms to! Does not seem to be the ensign as it has already been lowered and guard was not facing it. Very strange and incomprehensible ceremony indeed!

[@rossmansell5877]

Its more like Harry Tate's navy these days...🤣

[@bulletproofguy5112]

Atleast the bands trying 😂

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

Clearly not!

[@Ffhjle]

Just a volunteer band. They tried hard and I have heard far worse. You have to take what you can get and none of band members are professional musicians unlike those in a RM or other forces band. Ridiculous that a RM band is not onboard, however. Global Britain needs to show the world its best, for goodness sake!

[@user-zr9jj1up8z]

The guard commander has her sword belt over the top of her coat? Has this changed? Am used to seeing it underneath.

[@user-vu3fg2yz4v]

In dress regulations it dosen't seem to say anything about wearing it outside of the tunic, nor inside though, however the provided photos show the belt worn underneath.

[@Shadowfax-1980]

I think the band would be helped if they just had a tuba player or someone to provide a little extra bass.

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

They need some drums!

[@frediejovellano8666]

Waiting on you in Manila Bay.

[@mattkavanagh1504]

Great video if you turn the sound off,sunset was lovely!😂

[@hardalarboard8876]

Why was the ensign lowered before sunset was actually played?

[@n8vsarestillhere111]

😵 where's the ship's royal marine band?

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

One would expect them to join the ship at some point, more so for the big port visits coming up , all part of the pitch to buy British , to include the cocktail parties for dignitaries etc

[@geoffreymowbray6789]

Most likely they are member's of the Royal Navy Volunteer Band Association who usually are amateur musicians with membership open to both military and civilian musicians.

[@fod1855]

@@geoffreymowbray6789 yeah these guys are from a volunteer group - most of them appear to be officers

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

It hasn't got one! RM bands are all in UK.

[@bobsit1945]

Well they do have a US Marine Squadron aboard, why not one of their bands too.

[@rayjennings3637]

A fitting ending to that would have been the guard marching onto one of the aircraft lifts and slowly disappearing below deck level - especially if someone had thrown a hat onto the officer's sword!

[@raytalbot5890]

Why are they playing ‘eternal father’ ??? I’m my mind the flag gets lowered as sunset is playing???

[@kevinjones-ch7pr]

My mum loved my Dad in his Navy whites

[@CafPhine]

Don't forget there's a pub onboard. Something US carriers don't have.

[@CafPhine]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@robi4387]

Aaawh! That was a painful moment. Nice sunset though and it's the thought that counts. Another sherry Ms Smith?

[@accomuk]

Hopefully now the QE has a RM Band aboard to do the ceremony properly!

[@THOR-hu9tl]

sunset never used to be like this , normally it was the duty AB (with a bosuns call ) a few ROs to lower the flag and the OOD , and that was in every port

[@thegtgeek]

and still is that way, they only usually do this style of sunset on special occasions

[@frank1672]

Practice makes perfect!.

[@marioshadjikyriacou3381]

Perfect target for "kinzalh"! Just like "Defender"!!!

[@christopherhinton6456]

they killed the music.

[@hudsondonnell444]

I distinctly hear cats and a drunk Oompah band making sweet cacaphony on deck!

[@josephturner4047]

Well, that ain't the navy I joined in 73. When I passed out at Raleigh, we had a Royal Marine band playing Liberty Bell. We all laughed. Nobody cringed.

[@davisluong2060]

Where was her cover?

[@terryjeisman7550]

The ensign was down before they even started playing sunset!!!!!

[@user-vu3fg2yz4v]

Why does the guard commander have their sword belt outside of their white tunic???

[@carlosreyes207]

" TO BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS AND IN MEMORY OF , " HER MAJESTY , " " QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND " " APRIL 21 , 1926 " - " SEPTEMBER 08 , 2022 " " 2023 " --- THANK YOU ---

[@gordonbennett5217]

I think that they should have used the 'Bosun's Call or a Bugel' and avoided such an embarrassment. I agree with the comment about having a Royal Marine band or at least a Marine bugler onboard for the deployment. Opportunity missed.

[@MEDIAMIX67]

The band sounds like a new Royal Navy weapon its bound to scare any enemy for miles--lol

[@YARROWS9]

Starts off with a bingo caller giving the commands. Then decends into the orchestra playing in carry on up the Khyber. Accept it was after they had been blown up.

[@johnreilly7189]

Hope the band improves by the end of the deployment. Do they have any recorders and school children on hand ?

[@dotmurphy7279]

May I comment please. It sounds to me like the written music was for a much larger group, not for that small an ensemble. If the written music were for that size a group it would have been written differently. Not all musicians are arrangers. When I was in high school our band director was a gifted and experienced arranger. I understand all parts of the UK's military are having cut backs. You heard the result there.

[@kcharles8857]

Well that was not what I expected....

[@jacklomas7773]

I could hear the Queen laughing.

[@geraldrayner2248]

BLOODY SHAMBLES !!!

[@philskeyable]

Oh my God.

[@MrBardelma]

Uncapped Marines @4:48 ...what's wrong with proper dressing?

[@raywhitehead730]

Happy independence day, from America.

[@martinchamberlain542]

Happy Independence Day to you all, from the UK !

[@raywhitehead730]

@@martinchamberlain542 Uh, you do know that's independence from England, it was an insult, did you understand that?

[@martinchamberlain542]

Hello Ray, thanks for the input. Er, yes, we learn history here ,as well, and my own personal view is that the nascent nation of America , which at the time was overtaxed and under represented, probably was justified in dispensing with a pretty despotic King. If I lived in America at that time, I would likely have felt the same way as the revolutionaries. Anyway,many years have passed and I think we should all move on from our historic differences, which is why I wish you all a happy Independence Day.

[@jimkeappock7558]

Next time get a couple of Bagpipers!!

[@nickbrough8335]

Bravo, although it did sound more like a school band, but I guess they'll get enough practice during the deployment.

[@paulhowden720]

Sounds like the cadets are taking the drill then.

[@landhopper4296]

Happy July 4th to the Marine Corps detachment on board, and to our US friends and family wherever you may be. I hope the ship’s galleys manage something suitable in celebration.

[@davidwright4891]

Sadly we can,t afford a R.M band or a full bluejacket band even light fleet carriers used to carry R.M. band and RM detachment.Seems the Navy is operating on a shoestring budget.

[@billathighwoods4289]

It’s a fighting ship not Buckingham Palace

[@paulmcgee1867]

Photo opportunity

[@gerrywatts9793]

Definitely not up to scratch.

[@andrewjohnston4127]

4:44 no headdress?

[@ichabodon]

US female at the front, no hat, or had it blown off?

[@llew777]

Where was the rest of the royal marine Band that was bad, if anybody has been at a RMB parade or concert without argument THE BEST

[@Frederick-in2rz]

They're in Ice Cream suits, So this must be in the tropics?

[@mohan4114]

God save the Queen, some day the British will rule the wave again and Nelson make a come back.

[@marioshadjikyriacou3381]

Yeah...when sun rises from west, and sunset turns to east!

[@mcblaze1968]

The lady Marine was just itching to get on the march away from that band. lol You can see her leaning over anticipating. Good show though.

[@SupermanCrypto1]

Band sounded a bit off.

[@urenco1]

Sounds like a Rag mans trumpet😩🇬🇧🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@dugalreid8933]

A shambles

[@garythorb9863]

Fuck my old boots, what happened to Sunset 😳

[@estellemelodimitchell8259]

US Marines leading the March. Cool!

[@Sparkylad69]

They will be the ships voluntary band. Not professional and doing their best! Armed Forces have a lot less bands now so not that easy to get one.

[@ifax1245]

Oh dear, good effort but... Oh dear...

[@n6nvr]

We were tied up to HMS Tamar (the UK Military Headquarters complex). I was OOD and the CDO was with me on the bridge to ensure Sunset was executed on time. The CO, XO and Navigator, all of whom were going to be at the reception together coordinated our watches with the Ships Chronometer, and the Navigator and Senior Chief Quartermaster both determined the exact time of Sunset. We executed EXACTLY on time. The Brits executed exactly one minute later. Approximately 4 minutes later, the XO steamed on board and started to dress me down. I turned to the CDO and announced the Command has lost faith in my ability to properly stand my Watch. I saluted and requested permission to strike below. The CDO refused and started yelling at the XO. He was getting out and didn't care. He pointed out in sailorly language that I and he had performed EXACTLY as we were ordered and that he was going to request a Court-of-Inquiry or Court-Martial to clear of us any charges. Things calmed down when more of our officers came back aboard after the reception and pointed out we had executed right on time by their watches and pointed out that maybe the Brits were off.

[@seansean9675]

the senior ship sets the time and signals to the other ships that timing via signal flags. five minutes to the prep flag is dipped and re hoisted one minute to the prep flag is dipped at sunset the prep flag is lowered. all ships of a less seniority follow the senior ship

[@n6nvr]

I know. Our embarked Flag Officer was senior to both the other USN Flag Officer in Port and the CO at HMS Tamar at the time. @@seansean9675

[@leub01]

That’s definitely not Sunset as the Royal Navy know it, they need several buglers to make it sound better.

[@austinlondon3710]

Does the band NEED practice! Near completely out of tune! What was going on there? A junior High School marching band could do better!

[@geoffreymowbray6789]

They are not the ship's Royal Marine Band. Most likely they are member's of the Royal Navy Volunteer Band Association who usually are amateur musicians with membership open to both military and civilian musicians.

[@lookeast3047]

Maybe they should have lowered the rainbow flag instead.

[@camomiletea6708]

The band sounded like something from a military band from a banana republic! Not exactly Rule Britannia. Embarrassing.

[@JaySmith-nd7ij]

We are a banana republic, suggest you wake up and smell the coffee.

[@robertstark8527]

Oh dear how embarrassing does sound awful where are the RM band service when we need them most - is this a cut back or an oversight by the Admiralty!

[@danman4633]

For f**** sake, what's happened to the Mob.

[@davidfrehlini968]

USMC 64 -- 68. I just want to say to my Two Fellow Marines wearing the garrison cover ( the piss cover ) take that ridiculous cover off and wear the barracks cover. It brings out the neat appearance of the uniform and it looks more dignified. Semper Fi and God Bless.

[@Shadowfax-1980]

This seems to be the standard dress of Marines on ships.

[@1chish]

Is it standard dress for a female USMC NCO to not wear a headcovering on parade? The lass on the left front rank of the Detachment seemed to not have one? Having said that I noticed this is the second occasion on this deployment 4 US Marine NCOs have taken end positions with an RN detachment under the command of an RN Officer. What good sight it is too.

[@rossmansell5877]

Whatever happend to a carrier with its Royal Marine band and guard?. That was deplorable in a foreign port...and officers in shirt sleeves and men in tropicals?! Geezus..... 🙄🙄 (ex RN)

[@MetaView7]

the sunset on the sunset carrier of the sunset empire

[@tonybirch9440]

Get a bootneck band on that was terrible. Or give than a month ashore to practice. Last part acceptable.

[@trevoraver5864]

Oh dear! not good! Never mind though, the Chinese have surrendered!

[@HMS_Implausible]

lol

[@paulc2689]

Gosh that was awful. How embarrassing. So many things not right and below par. Come on guys, you are representing our country. This needs to be better. Captain, do your duty.

[@robertewing3114]

Why film the musicians and miss the flag lowering? No forward planning, too casual approach, a tourist!