Who’s who on the Buckingham Palace balcony (and the key person missing) as slimmed-down Royal Family are cheered by the crowds… but why were three of them standing so far away?!
- The Buckingham Palace balcony was rather scaled back for the King’s Birthday Parade flypast today
- Trooping the Colour 2023 LIVE: King Charles celebrates his first Birthday Parade
The Royal Family were out in full force today as they watched the King’s inaugural Birthday Parade – and viewed the Trooping the Colour flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The number of royals on the balcony, however, was relatively scaled down compared to the King’s Coronation in May – and last year’s Trooping the Colour.
There was also a sizeable gap between older members of The Firm – the Duke of Kent, 87, and Duke, 78, and Duchess, 76, of Gloucester – and the new generation of royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Moments on the balcony are iconic, as well-wishers gather around to catch a glimpse of the royals.
It could be that the King and Queen are making a clear point about the future of the Royal Family with their selections, and the distance between senior royals and less active members of The Firm.
In 2022, 17 members – and the late Queen – were present, but missing from this year’s balcony was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s children, James, Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor.
James, 15, and Lady Louise, 19, also made an appearance on the balcony for the Coronation last month.
Also absent from Trooping the Colour this year was Princess Alexandra, 86, a cousin of the late Queen.
Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force flew across the Palace, including the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight.
Here, FEMAIL talks through who made the cut for the Buckingham Palace balcony…
1. Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence: Princess Anne’s husband travelled alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh to Horse Guards Parade this morning.
2. Princess Anne: The King’s sister, who is often regarded as the ‘hardest working royal’, looked both happy and relaxed as she celebrated the annual event with her family. Anne rode horseback alongside Prince William and Prince Edward.
3. Prince George: Eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales and second-in-line to the throne, George was also pictured alongside his family on the balcony.
The Prince has been taking on more important roles since the Coronation last month, where he was one of four Pages of Honour for his grandfather, a ceremonial position which required the young boys to attend to King Charles, largely by carrying his heavy robes.
Pictured: The Trooping the Colour balcony in June 2022, with Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex in attendance
Members of the royal family looked excited and overjoyed to be watching the flypast on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour today
Prince George and Prince Louis, greet the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
The Prince and Princess of Wales, their children and the King and Queen smile and wave to wellwishers
Left to right: The Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, the Duke of Edinburgh
4. Prince Louis: Often referred to as the ‘cheeky’ royal due to his mischievous antics, Louis was on the balcony today alongside his mother, father and siblings. Last year, his moods ranged from excitement, to annoyance and despair as he screamed and put his hands over his ears next to the late Queen.
5. Kate, Princess of Wales: Kate, 41, looked regal as she sported green from head-to-toe, representing her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards – a role she took over from her husband at the end of last year.
6. Princess Charlotte: The Princess, who turned eight last month, was also pictured alongside Louis and King Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
She rode in a carriage with the Queen, Princess of Wales and her siblings Prince George and Prince Louis. During the coronation, Charlotte appeared to take on a protective and reassuring role for her younger brother Prince Louis.
Members of the public cheer as they watch the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows
Prince Louis was being his usual cheeky self on the Buckingham Palace balcony today
7. Prince of Wales: Prince William, heir to the throne, took part in the procession, riding horseback while his wife and children travelled in a carriage alongside the Queen.
8. King Charles: He is the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in the Colour on horseback. It was the first time a reigning monarch has ridden at the Colour since Queen Elizabeth’s horse Burmese carried her during the 1986 ceremony.
9. Queen Camilla: The Queen, 75, stood proudly with her husband King Charles and marvelled at the flypast as they stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. She was recently appointed to the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s greatest order of chivalry, by her husband. She donned a donned a red Fiona Clare outfit today, inspired by the grenadier guards.
There was a sizeable gap between older members of The Firm – the Duke of Kent, and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester – and the new generation of royals
The Duke of Kent and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were stood on the balcony, away from other members of the royal family
Crowds gathered to enjoy the flypast alongside the royals at Buckingham Palace today
10. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh: He rode during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards, formed last year. He would usually travel with his wife, Sophie, but could not this year due to his new role in the procession.
11. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh: Sophie, 58, wowed in white today as she travelled in a carriage alongside Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne’s husband, on their way to Horse Guards Parade.
12. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent: The 87-year-old was present on the balcony alongside the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, however there was a sizeable gap between them and the other members of The Firm.
13. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester: The Duke travelled in a carriage alongside his wife, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, for Trooping the Colour.
14. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester: The Duchess donned a straw-like hat, a pearl necklace and brown and white patterned dress as she stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony today.
The slimmed-down balcony perhaps isn’t so surprising, after experts said King Charles’s coronation portraits clearly showed he was clearly surrounding himself with ‘the people he can depend on’.
This one is a strong forceful portrait of a monarch who knows his own mind and is very experienced,’ royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline.
Mr Fitzwilliam said Princess Anne’s proximity to the King in the group portrait ‘is no accident’, adding the fact she is ‘experienced and hard-working’ will have been noticed by Charles.
The Buckingham Palace moment came after a packed day for senior members of the Royal Family, who had earlier travelled to Horse Guards Parade to watch the King’s Birthday Parade – his very first as monarch.
It had been a significant day for the King, who was the first monarch in decades to attend his Birthday Parade on horseback rather than in a carriage. He was joined by his son Prince William, and brother Prince Edward.
What is Trooping the Colour?
The Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place to celebrate the birthday of the reigning monarch in the UK and has been held every year for the past 260 years.
This year, the display will take place on Saturday June 17. It will feature the King’s personal troops, the Household Division – who will be situated on Horse Guards Parade – with the King himself set to attend and take salute.
The popular event will attract big crowds, who will be seen waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
Some 113 words of command will be given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.
During the ceremony, Charles will be greeted by a royal salute, before carrying out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
After the massed bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks.
The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry will march past His Majesty, The King’s Troop and the Royal Horse Artillery. Subsequently, the King shall ride back to Buckingham Palace at the head of his Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace.
His Majesty will then join other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.
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