It's not long now until King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrate their coronation by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony, and it has been revealed that they will be joined there by working royals only.
On Saturday, May 6, His Majesty will make history with just his closest and most loyal family members joining him on the balcony which according to royal sources, shows his vision of a slimmed down monarchy, writes The Mirror.
Detailed plans seen by our sister paper reveal how the King has chosen to say thanks for the nation alongside a select few royals who have dedicated their lives to public service, while also showing “the heartbeat and future of his family”.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will make their way from Westminster Abbey in the Gold State coach back to Buckingham Palace, joined in procession with the chosen group.
Future king and queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, nine; Princess Charlotte, seven and Prince Louis, four will also be present.
The final group of 15 doesn't include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, although it's uncertain if they will attend the event at all.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to respond to an official invitation by the King, although rumours of their demands to be included on the balcony are said to be “wide of the mark”, according to palace insiders.
Disgraced Prince Andrew, 63, who was forced to step back from royal life last year after being embroiled in a sex abuse scandal which he denied, will also not appear by the monarch’s side during his big moment.
Charles’s trusted lieutenant and sister, Princess Anne, will be on the balcony with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will also be present.
A source with knowledge of the plans said: “The King has been very clear who he wants to represent the monarchy.
“There is little room for sentiment, this is a State occasion, not a family occasion and it is right that only the working members of the family are there at the big public moment.”
The Duke of Kent, 87, a working royal and first cousin of both the late Queen and Prince Philip, will also attend alongside his sister Princess Alexandra, 86.
The source said their attendance on the balcony would be confirmed on the day owing to “individual health problems”.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have also been invited to join King Charles and Camilla.
Prince Richard, also the late Queen’s first cousin, has been a full-time working member of The Firm for many years, while his wife Birgitte, has for years attended national international events in support of the monarchy.
The source added: “The balcony moment will be the King’s final presentation of a slimmed down monarchy, which of course will be even further slimmed down once the Gloucesters, Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra finally step away from public life and into their well earned retirements.
“It is a final thank you for them and a nod to their support of his mother during her 70 year reign.”
An impressive fly past is also scheduled to take place with Lincolnshire’s famous Red Arrows aerial aerobatics team soaring above Buckingham Palace.
The scene will be similar to the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee finale last June, where Prince Louis had the nation in stitches by covering his ears and making faces during the aerial procession.
The balcony line-up in full
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla
- Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales - Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, Prince Louis, 5
- Princess Anne and Tim Laurence
- Prince Edward and Sophie
- Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Duke is the most senior male-line descendant of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, Prince Consort. He was first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II)
- Duke of Kent, 87 & his sister Princess Alexandra, 86
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