Kate Middleton, Prince William’s Kids ‘At Risk’ Each Time They Participate in a Beloved Buckingham Palace Tradition: Commentator
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are reportedly at risk each time they partake in a beloved Buckingham Palace tradition. According to a royal commentator, standing on the palace’s iconic balcony could be exceptionally unsafe.
The Buckingham Palace balcony is no place for kids, says royal commentator
During an episode of A Right Royal Podcast, commentator Emily Nash discussed the opening of the east wing of Buckingham Palace. Now open for visitors to see for the first time, commentary between Nash, Emmy Griffiths, and Andrea Caamano turned the structure’s size, stability, and security.
The Buckingham Palace balcony has been where the royal family stands as the public watches from below. Emily admits the balcony is “lower than you think.”
Discussions turned to the safety of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Nash said she would be “super nervous” about letting her children step out onto that balcony.
“It’s much lower than you think. Again, you’re not allowed to step out onto it. But it’s quite deep, in terms of fitting several people in, behind each other,” Nash explains.
“The balustrade is not that high. And we were told that they use a small box for the youngest children to see over the top for the flypast.
“But, I have to say, I’d be inclined to sort of put reins on. Particularly with the lively one… not mentioning names,” she added, alluding to Louis.
Other elements of the East Wing new to palace visitors
Correspondent Emily Nash was given a special tour of Buckingham Palace and the new-to-the-public east wing opening. She explained the home’s rich history and why others must enjoy this previously off-limits area of the royal family’s iconic London palace.
Nash explains, “What you need to know about the east wing is that it was built by Queen Victoria. She kept having children. Quite frankly, she and Prince Albert decided that the [original layout] wasn’t quite enough for them.”
“They needed to furnish it. So they went to Brighton where George IV had his opulent summer house. The couple stripped it, and brought it back on artillery carts,” Nash said of the opulent furnishings, light fixtures, and portraits.
The balcony is at the end of the tour. Nash says this element of the visit is unique. However, visitors are not allowed to step out onto it as part of the east wing tour, a choice by King Charles to open up the royal residences to the public.
When does the royal family typically use the east wing balcony of Buckingham Palace?
Upon adding the east wing, Prince Albert, not Queen Victoria, suggested to architect Edward Blore that a balcony be added. Subsequently, Victoria was the first royal to step onto it during the Great Exhibition in 1851, starting the great royal tradition of balcony appearances.
The royal family website states, “Since then, Royal Balcony appearances have marked many occasions from VE Day in 1945 to Jubilees, Trooping the Color and an extraordinary Fly-Past by 100 airplanes to mark the RAF’s centenary in 2018.”
Other events for which the royal family utilizes the balcony are royal weddings. The newly minted bride and groom stand at its center, flanked by other family members. They traditionally seal their union with a kiss.
While Prince William and Kate Middleton were able to follow in the footsteps of his parents, Princess Diana and King Charles, by having their first public kiss on the iconic balcony, Prince Harry did not. That was because he and Meghan Markle married in Windsor, not London.
Buckingham Palace has served as the official royal residence of the ruling monarch since 1837.
