The Queen is reported to make her first Buckingham Palace appearance of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations alongside a favourite duke.
The Sunday Times reports that The Queen is set to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the Duke of Kent. They will take their places there to watch the troops march back from Horse Guards Parade at the end of Trooping the Colour before Her Majesty takes a salute.
It’s already been reported that The Queen, 96, won’t attend the whole of Trooping. Instead, the salute on the parade ground will be taken by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal. It’s understood that Her Majesty may arrive at the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade by carriage for a brief review before departing to watch the event at the Palace.
The Duke of Kent, now 86, has been at The Queen’s side for Trooping the Colour for several years and was her sole royal companion at the event when it was held in a scaled back form at Windsor Castle owing to coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
The decision to ask him to stand alongside her for this important appearance also underlines the close family ties between them. The Duke has taken on royal engagements for The Queen from the earliest days of her reign and has spoken several times of the importance he places on duty.
Prince Edward will also be on the balcony for the main Royal Family appearance after Trooping. The Queen will be joined for the major appearance by working members of the Royal Family including the Duke, his sister, Princess Alexandra and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Trooping the Colour takes place on June 2 2022 and is the first major event of four days of Platinum Jubilee celebrations.