Members of the Royal Family looked excited and delighted to watch the flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color today.
The number of royals on the balcony, however, has been relatively reduced compared to the king’s coronation in May – and last year’s Trooping the Colour.
There was also a significant gap between the older members of The Firm – the Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester – and the new generation of royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The moments on the balcony are iconic, as well-wishers gather to catch a glimpse of the royal family.
It could be that the King and Queen make 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 – attended, but this year the balcony was missing 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.
Princess Alexandra, 86, a cousin of the late Queen, was also absent from Trooping the Color this year.
About 70 planes from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force flew over the palace, including the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight.
Here, FEMAIL talks about who made the cut for the Buckingham Palace balcony…
1. Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence: Princess Anne’s husband traveled alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh on Horse Guards Parade this morning.
2. Princess Anne: The king’s sister, who is often considered the ‘hardest working royal’, looked both happy and relaxed as she celebrated the annual event with her family. Anne rode alongside Prince William and Prince Edward.
3. Prince George: The 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 taken on bigger roles since the coronation last month, where he was one of his grandfather’s four pages of honour, a ceremonial position that required young boys to look after King Charles, in much of it while wearing his heavy robes.
Pictured: The Trooping the Color balcony in June 2022, with Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex in attendance
Members of the Royal Family looked excited and delighted to watch the flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color today
Prince George and Prince Louis wave to 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 well-wishers
Left to right: Duke of Kent, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Royal, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales , Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, Hon. Lady Ogilvy, Duke of Edinburgh
4. Prince Louis: Often referred to as a ‘cheeky’ royal due to his mischievous antics, Louis was on the balcony today alongside his mum, dad and siblings. Last year, his moods ranged from excitement to annoyance and despair as he screamed and put his hands to his ears next to the late Queen.
5. Kate, Princess of Wales: Kate, 41, looked regal as she sported head-to-toe green, representing her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards – a role she took over from her husband late last year .
6. Princess Charlotte: The Princess, who turned eight last month, was also pictured alongside Louis and King Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
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 his usual cheeky on the balcony at Buckingham Palace today
7. Prince of Wales: Prince William, heir to the throne, took part in the procession on horseback while his wife and children traveled by horse-drawn carriage alongside the Queen.
8. King Charles: He is the first monarch in more than 30 years to participate in the Color on Horseback. It was the first time a reigning monarch had ridden the Color since Queen Elizabeth Burmese’s horse carried her at the 1986 ceremony.
9. Queen Camilla: The Queen, 75, stood proudly with her husband King Charles and marveled at the flypast as they stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. She was recently appointed to the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s highest order of chivalry, by her husband. She donned a red Fiona Clare outfit today, inspired by the Grenadier Guards.
There was a significant gap between older members of The Firm – the Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester – and the new generation of royals
The Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester stood on the balcony, apart from other members of the royal family
Crowds gathered to enjoy the flypast alongside the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace today
10. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh: He rode during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion of the London Guards, formed last year. He usually traveled with his wife, Sophie, but could not this year due to his new role in the motorcade.
11. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh: Sophie, 58, wowed in white today as she traveled in a carriage alongside Princess Anne’s husband, Timothy Laurence, on his 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, but there was a significant gap between them and other members of The Firm.
13. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester: The Duke traveled in a carriage alongside his wife, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, for Trooping the Colour.
14. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester: The Duchess donned a straw hat, pearl necklace and brown and white patterned dress as she stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace today.
