Which minor royals have been left off the balcony at Trooping the Colour?

Trooping the Colour is one of the highlights of the royal calendar – and the high point of the day for many fans is when members of the family take to the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast.

Every year, thousands of well-wishers gather around the Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous family. But in recent times, the balcony has become increasingly sparse, as the number of royals invited to take to the iconic spot keeps getting whittled down.

Comparing a picture of the balcony’s full line-up in 2019 to photographs from last week’s ceremony highlights a stark reduction in the number on royals, with 44 crammed into the space five years ago, compared to just 15 last week (and 14 in 2023).

According to the Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden, this is because King Charles ‘chose to stick with the post-pandemic policy of his late mother and allow only “working royals” on the balcony’.

Unlike days gone by, when faces like Lady Amelia and Lady Marina Windsor would be invited to star in the day’s set piece, this year junior royals were asked not to join the more senior members of ‘The Firm’ on the balcony.

Buckingham Palace’s balcony was packed during Trooping the Colour in 2019, with many minor royals as well as the senior members of The Firm

However, in 2024, there were just 15 royals on the balcony, with spots limited to working members of the Royal Family as well as the Wales children, and Lady Louise

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Mr Eden said: ‘Instead [of a full balcony] there was the sad sight of Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Queen Elizabeth’s beloved first cousin Prince Michael of Kent, glimpsed behind the curtain in the Centre Room at the palace. 

‘Like his recently bereaved sister, Lady Gabriella Windsor, Lord Freddie was asked to stay out of sight, like some embarrassing relative.’

This could be seen as particularly poignant as the event marked Lady Gabriella Windsor’s first public appearance since the tragic death of her husband, Thomas Kingston in February.

Known to her friends as Ella, the 43-year-old daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent put on a brave face as she watched the RAF flypast from inside Buckingham Palace.

According to Mr Eden: ‘The Duke of Kent was…left looking lonely without his wife or children. His sister, Princess Alexandra, was too frail to join him even though she is still considered a “working royal”.’ 

Those on the balcony included the King, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their daughter Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.

The tradition of filling the balcony up with royals was abandoned by Queen Elizabeth, following the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, and after Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties. 

According to Richard Eden: ‘She [Queen Elizabeth] felt that she could not exclude those who had stepped down from royal duties if she allowed other ‘non-working royals’ to join her on the balcony.’

Lady Gabriella Windsor, her brother Lord Frederick Windsor, and his wife Sophie was seen watching the action through a window, as they sit inside the Palace

As a result of continuing this strategy, over the last two years, the balcony was full of spaces, which Mr Eden said ‘would previously have been filled with the smiling faces of younger royals’.

And it appears this state of affairs is set to continue: according to his report, Prince William is ‘full agreement’ with his father about the need for a ‘slimmed-down monarchy’.

Mr Eden cited a source as saying: ‘When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won’t be inviting anyone else to become working royals. It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.’

However, while the balcony may have been sparse, those who were on it were celebrated by the assembled masses – in particular, Kate, the Princess of Wales. 

The Princess, who received a roar of applause from the crowd when she stepped onto the balcony, has not officially been seen in public since announcing she was being treated for cancer in February.

However, the evening before Trooping the Colour, she released a statement saying she would be at the event. 

In it, she revealed she will not be returning to public duties full time, but said she does now feel well enough to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months, including attending the King’s official birthday parade.

Kate wrote in the statement: ‘I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

‘I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

‘My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.’

She added that while she was ‘looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade’, and was hoping to join a few public engagements over the summer, she knew she was ‘not out of the woods yet’.

One royal who was on the balcony was Kate Middleton, much to the delight of royal watchers (pictured L-R: Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louise, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte)

The Princess of Wales beams as she and her daughter Princess Charlotte are pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the flypast at last weekend’s Trooping the Colour

Kate added: ‘I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

‘Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.’    

Speaking about Kate’s appearance at the event, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL: ‘It was pivotal that, since we had not seen her at an official function for six months, that Catherine attended the gathering on the Buckingham Palace Balcony after Trooping the Colour. 

‘There was delight when she was able to watch the Parade from an office on Horse Guards. 

‘It was worldwide news and the Irish Guards excelled at the magnificent ceremony, which had its origins as a rallying point in the battles of past centuries. A ferocious thunderstorm did not dampen the mood of rejoicing in the Mall.’