June is right around the corner, and with it comes a major event in the annual royal calendar: Trooping the Colour, the traditional birthday bash for the monarch (so, King Charles). And while it’s officially all about the military parade and the Royal Air Force flyby at Buckingham Palace, the unofficial highlight for many is the moment the royal family steps onto the balcony in front of the crowd.
Countless iconic photographs have been captured at that very spot over the decades: Queen Elizabeth II at her Jubilee in 2022, various newly crowned monarchs draped in velvet robes and newlyweds sealing their vows with a kiss (or more!). But what would we see if we could get a peek from the other direction? Do the royals actually see the commoners they wave at—or something else we would have never guessed?
Ahead, a royal insider spilled the beans, and we have all the details. We will likely never get to stand on that iconic balcony, so keep reading to find out what we’re missing!
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What’s actually happening on that Buckingham Palace balcony?
On the screen (or on the Mall, if you happen to be in London for a royal occasion) it seems like the monarch and his family are looking directly at the cheering crowd. But the truth is, they can’t actually see much of what’s going on. The large Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace blocks their view of the Mall, where the majority of the royal fans are lined up. That’s why, as an insider told Hello!, the royals have small hidden televisions where they can watch both themselves and the commoners below them.
Yes, you heard that right: Televisions are on the balcony.
“They are placed in the corners of the balcony, slightly canted,” the Hello! source revealed. “The balustrade is covered in red fabric, so all the equipment can be hidden behind it.” (The screens must be really well hidden, considering nobody has ever seen them.) We’ve never spotted the royal youngsters (or any other royal) marveling at themselves on the TVs—or maybe we have but didn’t realize it at the time—but it’s easy to imagine that the kids are having a blast pulling faces for their fans and the cameras.
When do the royals stand on the balcony?
Every time there’s a major royal or national event, the royals gather on the balcony. This includes the annual Trooping the Colour event, royal weddings and coronations. You can surely remember Charles in his purple silk velvet Robe of Estate, waving from the balcony for the first time as king in May 2023. He stood alongside the newly crowned Queen Camilla as well as the senior royals and their kids.
And then, of course, there were the two kisses William and Kate shared on their wedding day in April 2011, an intimate moment in front of millions. By the way, the kissing tradition was started by William’s father, Charles, and the late Princess Diana. When they tied the knot in July 1981, the groom forgot to kiss his bride after the vows at the altar—and made up for it later on the balcony. The commoners, unsurprisingly, loved it, and the balcony kiss has been a tradition ever since.
In 2022, Kate’s and William’s youngest son, Prince Louis, stole the show at Elizabeth’s Jubilee by covering his ears and pulling funny faces during the flyby. You never know who will go viral!
The next Trooping the Colour will be on June 13, 2026, so mark your calendars. It might be a while until the next royal wedding, after all.
Who’s allowed to stand on the balcony?
That’s up to the monarch. Technically, there are no fixed rules about who’s allowed on the balcony and who isn’t (which is surprising, considering almost everything else in royal life seems to be strictly regulated). But according to tradition, it’s usually the king or queen and their spouse, the first- and second-in-line to the throne and their husbands, wives and kids, if they have any. In recent years, however, access has been limited to working royals, and it was Elizabeth who first stripped down the balcony crowd for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
“After careful consideration, the queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance … will be limited to her majesty and those members of the royal family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the queen,” a palace spokesperson confirmed to the British press at the time. This meant that Harry and Meghan, who were flying in from the U.S., while allowed to attend other Jubilee events, such as a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, could not join the senior royals on the balcony. The same applied to the now ex-prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Eugenie (who just revealed exciting news!) and Princess Beatrice. Charles has continued this rule.
Has the balcony appearance always been a tradition?
No, but it’s been going on for quite a while—since 1851, to be exact. It was Queen Victoria, Charles’s great-great-great-grandmother, who started the balcony tradition. She was also the first to make Buckingham Palace the main residence of the monarch, moving there in 1837, just weeks after being crowned as an 18-year-old. Victoria had no fewer than six kids with her husband, Prince Albert, so unsurprisingly, the family needed as much space as possible.
Victoria commissioned the East Wing, which we today know as the front of the palace. It was Albert, however, who suggested adding the now-iconic balcony. Construction finished in 1849, but the balcony was first used for official appearances two years later, during celebrations for the opening of the Great Exhibition, an international exposition focusing on industrial progress. Over time, it has become the place for the royals to wave to the crowds of commoners on all important royal or national occasions.
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on the royal balcony, Astrid Hofer tapped her experience as a London-based journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering topics including the British royal family. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Hello!: “Revealed: What the royal family keep hidden on palace balcony during official appearances”
- Royal.uk: “What is Trooping the Colour?”
- Royal.uk: “Victoria (r. 1837-1901)”
- British Army: “Trooping the Colour”
- Royal Collection Trust: “History of the East Wing of Buckingham Palace”
- Reuters: “Buckingham Palace opens room with famous balcony to visitors”
- Independent: “Prince Louis ‘steals the show’ during royal family balcony appearance”
- The Guardian: “No Harry, Meghan or Andrew on balcony at start of jubilee events”
- Marie Claire: “This iconic royal wedding tradition started because of a big mistake at the altar”
- Town & Country: “Who gets to stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony?”
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