“Blink and you might have missed some of the day’s most talked-about details” From Prince William’s ceremonial role to the Wales family’s coordinated appearance, The Trooping the Colour procession featured a series of eye-catching details, with one particular family appearance quickly becoming a highlight of the day.

Who’s Who on the Buckingham Palace Balcony: Every Royal Family Member at Trooping the Colour 2026

While the balcony used to be full of extended members of the family, King Charles has kept it to a tight circle in recent years

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 13, 2026 in London, England.
King Charles and the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2026.Credit : Chris Jackson/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Members of the British royal family joined King Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour’s grand finale
  • Prince William, Kate Middleton and their kids were part of the group that watched the flypast from the royal residence
  • Although extended members of the royal family gathered on the palace balcony prior to 2022, Queen Elizabeth scaled down the group to only working royals and their children

Trooping the Colour isn’t complete without its grand finale: the royal family’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

At the end of King Charles’ birthday parade on Saturday, June 13, the monarch was joined by family members on the balcony of the iconic royal residence in London to watch the Royal Air Force perform a flypast, or ceremonial flight of aircraft creating a spectacular display overhead.

Standing beside King Charles for the biggest photo op of the day was his wife, Queen Camilla.

The monarch’s eldest son and heir, Prince William, also stood on the balcony after riding on horseback in the parade. He was joined by his wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who all rode in a horse-drawn carriage together during the procession through London ahead of the balcony appearance.

Members of the Royal Family (left to right) the Duke of Gloucester, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and the Duke of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the flypast following, the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London
Prince Richard, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2026.

Other royals on the balcony included Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.

Princess Anne and Prince Edward are King Charles’ siblings, and they both rode on horseback during the day’s parade. Their spouses — Anne’s husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, and Edward’s wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh — are usually part of the balcony appearance.

Their other brother, the former Prince Andrew, no longer participates in Trooping the Colour after he stepped back from his public role amid scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The King stripped Andrew of his royal titles last year amid renewed criticism.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the flypast following, the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London, as King Charles III celebrates his official birthday.
Prince Edward and Sophie on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour 2026.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

The Duke of Gloucester is Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin, and he and his wife are working royals.

Rounding out the crew was the Duke of Kent, 90, who is another one of Queen Elizabeth’s cousins.

Before 2022, extended members of the royal family would squeeze onto the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast at the end of Trooping the Colour. However, Queen Elizabeth made a major change in 2022, with only senior working members of the royal family and some of their children appearing on the balcony. Other family members watched the festivities from the Major General’s Office, which overlooks the parade grounds.

Members of the Royal Family (left to right) the Duke of Gloucester, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and the Duke of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London
British royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour 2026

The change meant that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who stepped back from their royal roles in 2020 and relocated to California, and the former Prince Andrew, who has been steeped in controversy since 2019 due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, would not appear on the balcony.

Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the flypast following, the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London, as King Charles III celebrates his official birthday.
Buckingham Palace during the flypast of Trooping the Colour 2026.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

King Charles, 77, acceded to the throne in 2022 upon his mother’s death, and he’s kept the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance to the smaller group of working royals in the years since.

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