The late queen’s final balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace demonstrated the monarch’s devotion to duty above all, royal experts say – and showed a beautiful insight into her relationship with her son.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Secrets of the Royal Palaces, presenter and historian Wesley Kerr said Elizabeth II – who made one last surprise show for the adoring public on the final day of the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations – wanted to be there for her supporters.
And he stressed that the royal family – who were not feeling well – wanted to keep that side of her away from well-wishers.
“She wanted us to see her as the queen,” he told the program, which airs Saturday at 8:35 p.m. ‘The gathering of troops had been quite difficult and she stayed in the palace for several hours after the trooping, which surprised me that day.’
After joining her family on the balcony to witness a spectacular RAF fly-pass on Thursday, June 2, she was unable to attend thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral the following day due to inconvenience.
The late queen’s final balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace demonstrated the monarch’s devotion to duty above all, royal experts say – and showed a beautiful insight into her relationship with her son.
The Queen was a no-show at the Epsom Derby on Saturday and did not attend the Party at the Palace that evening – although her recorded sketch with Paddington Bear stole the show.
Instead, it was decided that she would be taken to Windsor where she could concentrate on resting.
“There was a deep underlying condition that was well advanced by that time, and it was extremely difficult for her to recover from that,” Wesley explained.
But – as revealed in Robert Jobson’s book Our King – arrangements were made with the Queen’s consent for her to be flown from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace by helicopter and for her to use a wheelchair, although a carefully orchestrated plan was drafted. to make sure she didn’t use it in public.
“The public knew nothing about this,” said royal writer Emily Andrews. “They didn’t know she was sick, they didn’t know she was in pain and they didn’t understand why the queen wasn’t there.”
Wesley added: ‘It wasn’t until Charles called from the royal box and said, Mum, you know, there’s crowds of people here, there’s a great atmosphere, is there any chance you’ll make it?’
The Mall erupted with passion and excitement after Elizabeth made her unexpected appearance at the palace.
“Queen Elizabeth had been appearing on that balcony as the King’s granddaughter since the late 1920s,” Wesley added.
Pictured: The late Queen Elizabeth enjoying her Platinum Jubilee celebration in June 2022, the year she passed away
Speaking on Channel 5’s Secrets of the Royal Palaces, presenter and historian Wesley Kerr (pictured) said Elizabeth II wanted to be there for her supporters
‘Little did we know that was the last time we would ever see her on that famous balcony. A huge moment.’
“When the Queen stepped onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace looking absolutely stunning in that green outfit, the crowd went wild,” said Afua Acheampong-Hagan, broadcaster and royal correspondent.
‘The highlight of the Platinum Jubilee was seeing the Queen on that balcony and you could read the emotion on her face.
“I think she was very happy to see her people, if you will, one last time.”
“She felt it was her duty to come to London, to acknowledge the crowd,” Emily added.
‘But it wasn’t just about duty, it was about Charles wanting the Queen to see how much she was loved.
“She always put duty above personal pain, above family, above personal sacrifice. Duty always comes first.”
Photos of a clearly delighted queen gingerly walking onto the balcony before waving to the cheering crowd are among the most iconic images of Platinum Jubilee.
Emily Andrews, pictured, a royal writer, said the Queen ‘always put duty before personal pain’
Afua Acheampong-Hagan (pictured), presenter and royal correspondent, said the Queen’s appearance was the ‘pinnacle’ of the anniversary celebrations
She later sent a moving letter to the country in which she declared: “My heart was with you all.”
However, her presence at the triumphant finale of four days of festivities had been hanging in the balance for days.
The Mail on Sunday revealed in March 2022 how Queen Elizabeth had made it clear that her attendance at events of personal significance, such as the Commonwealth and Cenotaph services, should not be done at any cost.
Meanwhile, the king is determined to attend this year’s Trooping the Colour, his official birthday celebration, if his health allows.
Aides are already exploring ways Charles could participate within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment.
This could include watching the military spectacle from a stage rather than on horseback as usual, having ridden in a carriage from Buckingham Palace, as his late mother used to do.
Given the nature of His Majesty’s condition, a final decision will not be made until the near future and will be subject to medical advice.
The event will take place in London on Saturday 15 June. But the Mail understands that planning for the occasion is going to plan, giving cause for optimism.
Photos of a clearly delighted queen gingerly walking onto the balcony before waving to the cheering crowd are among the most iconic images of Platinum Jubilee
Pictured: Elizabeth and her son Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the Trooping the Colour, in June 2022
Pictured: Many enjoyed the Queen’s heartfelt Paddington Bear video, made for the Platinum Jubilee
King Charles III (dressed in his Welsh Guards uniform) watches an RAF flyover from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color on June 17, 2023 in London
The coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla. Charles and Camilla leave Buckingham Palace by carriage for Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023
“There are a number of important events in the diary that His Majesty would like to attend and this one is at the top of the list,” the source said.
Trooping the Color dates back to the 17th century and is one of the largest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians and more than 200 horses.
The monarch usually drives via The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade to inspect the troops.
The monarch will then drive back to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider royal family and a flypast by the RAF.
As it stands, His Majesty has been advised by doctors not to attend events with large public gatherings after he was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in January.
He is currently undergoing outpatient treatment in London, although he continues to work hard behind the scenes on state affairs and makes a point of being seen in public or on camera whenever possible.