RICHARD EDEN: Why Charles should let ALL the royals join him on Palace balcony... bar three
With both King Charles and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, undergoing treatment for cancer, this has been a tough year for the Royal Family.
Rarely has there been more need for an uplifting royal occasion – the sort of thing that Trooping the Colour might provide in a fortnight’s time.
The King’s Birthday Parade, as it is properly known, should be a chance to celebrate many of the things that we value most about the monarchy: the tradition, the connection to our Armed Forces and the sense of public service – as well as the colour, pomp and pageantry.
We saw only the 'working royals' and their families on the balcony last June
Traditionally, Trooping has also been an opportunity to toast the extended Royal Family on the monarch’s official birthday.
Inviting minor royals to join her on the Buckingham Palace balcony had been the late Queen Elizabeth’s way of thanking relatives for their support.
Meanwhile, the public enjoyed a glimpse into what was, in part, a private family occasion.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed seeing the younger royals and how they’d changed in the past 12 months. They added a dash of colour, youthful appeal and even glamour.
However, the last time that happened was in 2019.
It all changed when the Covid pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. National lockdowns were enforced, and Queen Elizabeth took part in drastically scaled-down ceremonies, alone. Trooping was temporarily moved from Horse Guards Parade to Windsor Castle.
At least it saved Her Majesty from having to face the thorny question of what to do about the Sussexes and her beloved but disgraced second son, the Duke of York.
When Trooping the Colour returned in 2022, it was a double celebration as the nation also marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – 70 years of her record-breaking reign.
The Sussexes, who have quit royal duties, seen with Kate and William at an event in 2018
Prince Andrew's presence on the balcony with Charles would be an embarrassment. Here he is taking centre stage at the funeral of the former King of Greece in March
Although all members of her family were invited to join the party, including Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as Prince Andrew, only ‘working royals’ were invited to appear on the balcony.
This meant that the Queen avoided offending either the Sussexes, who had quit royal duties, or Andrew, who had been stripped of them.
Yet it also ended decades of tradition. The minor royals were now banished from view.
For me, there was something slightly sad about the sparsely populated balcony that remained – and still remains, as King Charles has decided to stick with this rather radical change after coming to the throne in 2022.
Once again, we saw only the ‘working royals’ and their families on the balcony last June. This included the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence as well as Prince Edward and Sophie. We also saw the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who have stepped into the breach in recent months, and the Duke of Kent.
In my opinion, this year should mark a return to the former tradition.
The King should invite all members of the extended Royal Family to join him and Queen Camilla when they step outside to acknowledge the crowds.
What about Zara and Mike Tindall for example, who are so popular with the public? Or, the Duke of Kent's children, such as Lady Helen Taylor, or even the duke's glamorous granddaughters, Lady Amelia Windsor and her sister Lady Marina?
All, that is, except for Prince Andrew, whose presence would be an embarrassment. And the Sussexes, whose inclusion would be an insult to the Royal Family and its millions of supporters.
A full balcony would cheer the nation. It would be a fillip to the monarchy at a difficult time.
It would be a powerful display of unity and strength.
