The late Queen’s final appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace demonstrated the monarch’s commitment to duty above all else, royal experts said, and offered a sweet insight into her relationship with her son.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Secrets of the Royal Palaces, broadcaster and historian Wesley Kerr said Elizabeth II, who put on one last surprise show for adoring crowds on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, wanted to be there for her followers.
And she emphasized that the royal, who had not been feeling well, wanted to keep that side of her away from well-wishers.
“She wanted us to see her as the Queen,” he told the programme, which airs on Saturday at 8.35pm. “The march had been quite difficult and she stayed in the palace for a few hours after the march, which surprised me that day.”
After joining his family on the balcony to watch a spectacular RAF flyover on Thursday 2 June, he was unable to attend a thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral the following day after suffering discomfort.
The late Queen’s final appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace demonstrated the monarch’s commitment to duty above all else, royal experts said, and offered a sweet insight into her relationship with her son.
The Queen did not appear at the Epsom Derby on Saturday and also did not attend the Palace party that night, although her recorded sketch with Paddington Bear stole the show.
Instead, it was decided that she would be taken to Windsor, where she could focus on resting.
“There was a deep underlying condition that was already very advanced by then, and it was extremely difficult for her to achieve,” Wesley explained.
However – as revealed in the book Our King by Robert Jobson – with the Queen’s consent, arrangements were put in place for her to fly by helicopter from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace and for her to use a wheelchair. , although a meticulously orchestrated plan was put into motion. to ensure that she is not seen wearing it in public.
“The crowd didn’t know about this,” said royal writer Emily Andrews. “They didn’t know she was sick, they didn’t know she was in pain and they didn’t understand why the Queen wasn’t there.”
Wesley added: “It was only when Charles called from the royal box and said, Mum, you know, there’s a huge crowd here, there’s a wonderful atmosphere, is there any chance you could make it?”
The mall erupted in fervor and excitement after Elizabeth made her unexpected appearance at the Palace.
“Queen Elizabeth had been appearing on that balcony since the late 1920s as the king’s granddaughter,” Wesley added.
Pictured: The late Queen Elizabeth enjoying the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, the year she died.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Secrets of the Royal Palaces, broadcaster and historian Wesley Kerr (pictured) said Elizabeth II wanted to be there for her followers.
‘We didn’t know that this was the last time we would see her on that famous balcony. A great moment.”
“When the queen walked out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace, looking absolutely resplendent in that green suit, the crowd went absolutely crazy,” said Afua Acheampong-Hagan, broadcaster and royal correspondent.
‘The pinnacle of the Platinum Jubilee was seeing the Queen on that balcony and you could see the emotion written all over her face.
“I think she was very happy to have been able to see her people, so to speak, for the last time.”
“She felt it was her duty to come to London, to recognize the crowd,” Emily added.
‘But it wasn’t just about duty, it was because Charles wanted the queen to see how much she was loved.
‘She always put duty above personal pain, above family, above personal sacrifice. Duty always comes first.
Images of an obviously delighted Queen walking cautiously towards the balcony before waving to the jubilant crowd are among the most iconic images of the Platinum Jubilee.
Emily Andrews, pictured, a royal writer, said the Queen ‘always put duty before personal pain’
Broadcaster and royal correspondent Afua Acheampong-Hagan (pictured) said the Queen’s appearance was the “pinnacle” of the Jubilee celebrations.
He later sent a moving letter to the nation declaring, “My heart has been with you all.”
However, their attendance at the triumphant finale to four days of festivities had been up for grabs for days.
The Mail on Sunday revealed in March 2022 how Queen Elizabeth had made it clear that her presence at events of personal importance, such as Commonwealth services and the Cenotaph, should come at no cost.
Meanwhile, the King is determined to attend this year’s Trooping the Colour, his official birthday celebrations, if his health permits.
Aides are already exploring ways Charles could participate within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment.
This could include watching the military spectacle from a podium rather than on horseback as usual, after being driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage as his late mother used to do.
No firm decision will be made until closer to the time, given the nature of Her Majesty’s condition, and will depend on medical advice.
The event will be held in London on Saturday June 15. But the Mail understands that planning for the occasion is progressing as planned, which gives reason for optimism.
Images of an obviously delighted Queen walking cautiously towards the balcony before waving to the jubilant crowd are among the most iconic images of the Platinum Jubilee.
Pictured: Elizabeth and her son Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Queen’s birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, in June 2022.
Pictured: Many enjoyed the heartfelt video of the Queen’s Paddington Bear, made for the Platinum Jubilee.
King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) watches an RAF flyover from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color on June 17, 2023 in London.
The Coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla. Charles and Camilla leave Buckingham Palace by carriage for Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023
“There are a number of key events Her Majesty would love to attend that appear in the diary and this one is at the top of the list,” a source said.
Dating back to the 17th century, Trooping the Color is one of the largest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians, as well as more than 200 horses.
The monarch usually walks down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via The Mall to inspect the troops.
The sovereign then returns to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider Royal Family and the RAF flyover.
As things stand, doctors have advised Her Majesty not to attend events with large public gatherings after she was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in January.
He is currently receiving outpatient treatment in London, although he continues to work hard behind the scenes on state affairs and strives to be seen in public or on camera whenever possible.