The King’s long-promised ‘slimmed down’ monarchy will be represented on the Buckingham Palace balcony on coronation day, according to reports.
A group of 15 working royals will take centre stage for the historic moment after Charles is crowned on May 6, it’s believed.
This means there will be no room for the Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, or royals like Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice who have featured in previous events.
A source ‘familiar with the plans’ has said those selected have dedicated their lives to public service and Charles will aim to show ‘the heartbeat and future of his family’.
Who will be on the balcony?
- King Charles
- Camilla, Queen Consort
- Prince William
- Kate, Princess of Wales
- Prince George
- Princess Charlotte
- Prince Louis
- Princess Anne
- Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence
- Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh
- Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
- Princess Alexandra
- The Duke of Gloucester
- The Duchess of Gloucester
‘The King has been very clear who he wants to represent the monarchy’, they told the Mirror.
‘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 monarch and his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort, will, of course, lead the family in watching a fly past over London.
Standing beside them will be heir to the throne, Prince William and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales.
Their three children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 5, are reportedly making an appearance – with royal fans likely keen for more legendary facial expressions from little Louis, who will have just celebrated his birthday.
Princess Anne, who regularly takes on the most royal engagements out of her family, will join the group with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence.
The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and wife Sophie, who spent much time with the Queen before her death, will also be waving to crowds.
Some lesser-known members of the family have also reportedly been asked by the King to appear on the balcony in front of the nation.
The Duke of Kent, 87, and his sister Princess Alexandra, 86, who are cousins of the late Queen, have been invited.
But their attendance will apparently ‘be confirmed on the day due to individual health problems’.
Another of Her Majesty’s cousins, the Duke of Gloucester, has been asked to come along with his wife, the Duchess of Gloucester.
One source said the balcony moment already represents a ‘final presentation of a slimmed down monarchy’ – but this will be taken further when the Gloucesters, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra ‘step away from public life and into their well-earned retirements’.
The final line-up means that the shamed Prince Andrew will be left on the sidelines after allegedly paying millions to settle a civil case with sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre last year. He has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will also reportedly not be invited to appear the balcony after they left the UK to start a new life in America.
It’s uncertain if the Sussexes will even come to the coronation as they are yet to make their decision public. The deadline for responding to the invite was said to be April 3.
An appearance from them would likely make for some awkward conversations after explosive claims were made about the Royal Family in their Netflix show and Harry’s book Spare.