Why 3 Royal Family Members Who Fans Thought Would Be on the Balcony During Trooping the Colour Were Excluded
The 2024 Trooping the Colour took place on June 15. The annual royal event, which marks the monarch’s official birthday, includes hundreds of soldiers, horses, and musicians who join in a military procession. It’s been a royal family tradition for more than 250 years.
The finale comes when several royals assemble on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast. It was widely thought that three royals who haven’t made an appearance on the balcony the last few years were going to be there, but they were not.
Here’s who that was and why King Charles‘ former assistant says those family members weren’t invited this year either.
The 3 royals who were not on the balcony and why
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011. During his time working for the monarch and his wife (formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles), his duties also included that of valet, house manager, and driver. He looked after Prince William and Prince Harry as well whenever they stayed at Highgrove House.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Harrold said that many royal watchers thought Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, as well as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, would make an appearance on the balcony. That’s because the women have shown their support for the monarchy over the last few weeks, attending various events including a Garden Party Prince William hosted on behalf of King Charles.
However, as Harrold noted, their absence shows that the king is still keeping the Firm to only working royals.
“The balcony appearance was interesting,” Harrold said. “People thought Zara, Beatrice, and Eugenie might be there but the focus was on the working members of the royal family.”
The former royal butler added that it was “nice to see” the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) back out in public again saying: “The interaction between Kate and William was similar to previous years, it was very much a normal appearance but equally a big deal being Kate’s first appearance. It was nice to see her there and also interacting with her father-in-law. It reminds us that she is just getting back into things but it is nice for the public to see her out and about.
“It is important for the royals to be a united front for the first time in a long time and shows that they are going through battles but they are still united and showing us that this is the future of the monarchy.”
One of the princesses breaks her silence the day after Trooping the Colour
One day after being left off the balcony, Princess Eugenie posted some family photos via social media. On her Instagram Story, she shared pics of her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their two sons, August and Ernest, with the caption: “Happy Father’s Day.”
Weeks earlier, Eugenie also posted on Instagram about William’s Garden Party and announced her public support for the royal family writing: “Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family yesterday to meet some special individuals at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party who have gone above and beyond to support their local communities and the country.”
