THE Queen has decided that only working royals will appear for the traditional Trooping the Colour, during Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
This means many well-known family members will not be joining the rest of the royal family on the balcony for the RAF flypast.
Who is on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour?
The Trooping the Colour balcony appearance will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the royals family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen.
This decision means those appearing alongside the Queen on the balcony at Buckingham Palace will include:
- The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
- The Earl and Countess of Wessex
- The Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence
- The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
- The Duke of Kent
- Princess Alexandra
In addition, the Cambridge children and the Wessex children are also expected to appear.
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Notably, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be absent due to their stepping down from royal duties.
It is thought that their children could be with them, as young Lilibet has not yet met the Queen.
Prince Andrew is the only one of the Queen’s children who will not be on the balcony as he was stripped of his role as a working royal.
On which occasions do the Royal Family appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace?
The most prominent and the most regular occasion for stepping out onto the famous balcony is Trooping the Colour – the annual celebration of the sovereign’s birthday.
However, that is not the only occasion the royal family are seen waving from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
They also appear on the balcony for:
- Weddings
- Jubilees
- Coronations
- Major state occasions
Which royals stand where on the balcony?
The Queen will stand in her traditional position – in the centre of the balcony.
This is a space of respect and significance, reserved for the monarch and their partner.
The only exception to this is during a royal wedding when the bride and groom can take centre stage.
The rest of the royal family is not restricted to where they have to stand.
However, the general tradition is that the first and second in line to the throne plus their wives and children will always be grouped around the Queen.
Who started the tradition?
The famous balcony was not an original part of Buckingham Palace but was added in the renovations around 1845 at Prince Albert’s suggestion.
Queen Victoria watched the troops depart for the Crimean War and welcomed their return from the balcony.
It was not until 1851 for the opening celebrations of the Great Exhibition that the balcony was used in an official capacity.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to take to the balcony as a way to greet her subjects.
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Seven years later she introduced her family to the balcony to greet the crowds, during the wedding of her daughter Princess Victoria.
From then on the balcony became a royal symbol, used for special occasions.
