At the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations it’s been confirmed only ‘working royals’ will stand alongside the Queen on the famous balcony – but the question is who are all the ‘working royals’?
During this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour on Thursday, June 2, it was announced the Queen would only be appearing on the balcony with a select number of her family members.
The Queen trims the balcony attendees
According to BBC News, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those Members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen.’
This means the likes of Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Andrew will not be standing alongside the 96-year-old Monarch because they are no long working members of the Royal Family.
What are ‘working royals’?
This begs the question who are the ‘working royals’ and what exactly does a ‘working royal’ do? It’s pretty simple, a member of the Royal Family who represents the Queen at official engagements.
In representing the Queen, a working royal will often perform any duties as needed including: Meeting with international dignitaries. Hosting official state dinners and other events. For example when Prince Charles and Camilla recently visited Canada and undertook various activities on behalf of his mother.
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Some members of the Royal Family, who are born into it, choose not to be ‘working royals’ such as Zara Tindall, or Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie due to wanting a private life. For some royals their move from ‘working royal’ to living a private life has been less of a choice and more of a must. In recent years it was decided Prince Andrew would no longer act as a ‘working royal’ shortly following his alleged involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Then there was Prince Harry and Meghan who moved to the US.
Who are the ‘working royals’?
The current ‘working royals’, alongside Her Majesty, are: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
Therefore, it’s likely these royals will be with the Queen for her balcony appearance on Thursday. In addition, it would seem the Cambridge children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – and the Wessex children – Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn – will also join their parents, and Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence will join his wife.
But, that’s not to say the non-working royals will miss out on time with the Queen as it has been reported the Queen will have a private celebration with her family and will likely meet her great-granddaughter, Lilibet, for the first time.
