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The royal family
Original poster

Balcony photo

153 replies

AskMeMore · 08/05/2023 23:57

I have a few questions about this photo.

  1. Everything I have read said it was supposed to be working Royals only on the balcony, but there is Camilla's grandchildren and page boys. Why?
  2. Why this particular pose? I would have thought William and Kate would be in a more prominent position beside Charles and Camilla, instead off way off to the side. So what is the reasoning behind the positioning?
Balcony photo
OP posts:
Whenharrymetsmelly · 09/05/2023 02:40

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/05/2023 00:46

Because they are their attendants - 4 page boys each, plus Camilla’s two ladies in waiting. They are in the picture directly around the couple same as bridesmaids and pages would be at a wedding.

They put the attendants in the middle to highlight the King and Queen. The day is all about them, so it’s natural the rest of the active royals are at the sides.

No it doesn’t mean Camilla’s family are more important than his, she just happens to have a bunch of grandsons the right age to page. His pages are all kids of godchildren or whatever.

What’s with the overthinking?

Well said

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/05/2023 05:55

AskMeMore · 09/05/2023 00:34

@Lochroy It was said it would only be working Royals as a reason why Harry was not invited to be on the balcony.
It honestly looks as if Camillas family are more important than Charles family.

Why do you care?

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/05/2023 05:57

And why did Camilla have 2 lookalikes there?

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 09/05/2023 06:05

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/05/2023 05:57

And why did Camilla have 2 lookalikes there?

The one that looked like her was her sister.

Soothingaftersun · 09/05/2023 06:12

It's a nice photo, more Coronation Party photo than Working Royals, what a surprise for the attendants if they weren't originally going to be on the balcony. I like it personally.

Sugarfree23 · 09/05/2023 06:50

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/05/2023 05:57

And why did Camilla have 2 lookalikes there?

Maids of Honour.

When the Queen was crowned she had about 6 maids of honour, who also appeared to carry her train.
The Queen Mother also had 6 maids of honour.

I think it's a nice switch to have the pageboys rather than loads of Maids of Honour.

MollyRover · 09/05/2023 07:08

Sophie is NAILING IT in that photo.

LIZS · 09/05/2023 07:17

The pages and lady companions were a late addition to the balcony party apparently to help with the weight of the robes. Two of the Queen's pages were her grandsons just as George was Charles'. You have his family on one side and his mother's cousins on the other, all working Royals.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/05/2023 07:27

Sugarfree23 · 09/05/2023 01:24

Anyone know why his pageboy were all in red but she had two in navy or black and two in red but not the same outfits as his red pageboys?

They are representing different Regiments.

Sugarfree23 · 09/05/2023 07:28

I think 3 of her pages were her grandsons and the other great nephew. I guess it's partly to do with having the right aged kids around to do it.

I was curious about previous coronations so looked back the previous photos it was adults who were train bearers rather than children.

JudyBlumesBlubber · 09/05/2023 07:32

In the Queens coronation there were SIX choreographed balcony scenes including the famous one with the ladies in waiting and page boys and all in all, there were 30 people on the balcony at various stages.

This would have been too much in austere Britain with a more egalitarian outlook so skimmed down for the times.

The pages and ladies-in-waiting were required of course so the King/Queen could move and gave a delightful informality to the scene. I loved seeing George giggle with the rest of the boys.

Lovingitallnow · 09/05/2023 07:34

@NowZeusHasLainWithLeda i thought the opposite! I thought the other lady looked more like her than her sister. Isn't it funny.

Maireas · 09/05/2023 07:34

AskMeMore · 09/05/2023 00:34

@Lochroy It was said it would only be working Royals as a reason why Harry was not invited to be on the balcony.
It honestly looks as if Camillas family are more important than Charles family.

No it doesn't.
As pp said it's like a wedding party photo.
It doesn't mean that a bridesmaid is more important, just that she had a particular role.

Maireas · 09/05/2023 07:36

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/05/2023 05:57

And why did Camilla have 2 lookalikes there?

Emergency Camillas. If the original one fell down the steps to the crypt another one could slot in.

PollyPeptide · 09/05/2023 07:36

Ladies in waiting are out. They're now called companions.

WeWereInParis · 09/05/2023 07:46

As PPs have said, it's like a wedding. I've just had a quick google of W&K's wedding balcony and it was them in the middle, then either side of them the child bridesmaids and pageboys, then people like Charles, Queen Elizabeth. Phillip, Kate's parents, Pippa, and Harry. No one would argue the bridesmaids/pageboys at that wedding were more important than the Queen, but she was still out to the side of them.

Sugarfree23 · 09/05/2023 07:53

Have Camillas grandsons been at any of the Royal events before ?

LIZS · 09/05/2023 08:02

Sugarfree23 · 09/05/2023 07:53

Have Camillas grandsons been at any of the Royal events before ?

Nafaik but their sister a bridesmaid for W and K. The smallest one who put her hands over her ears.

JenniferBarkley · 09/05/2023 08:10

It honestly looks as if Camillas family are more important than Charles family.

Yes, the abiding impression of the day is that Charles' family isn't important. 😂

Whenharrymetsmelly · 09/05/2023 08:17

JenniferBarkley · 09/05/2023 08:10

It honestly looks as if Camillas family are more important than Charles family.

Yes, the abiding impression of the day is that Charles' family isn't important. 😂

🤣🤣🤣🤣

crumpet · 09/05/2023 08:21

The last 3 coronations (1937 and 1951) both had pages and queens attendants on the balcony. As others have said, it’s just like any wedding party pics. No ulterior messaging, no ulterior motive. Just history and protocol.

Balcony photo
Balcony photo
crumpet · 09/05/2023 08:21

2 not 3!

tigger2022 · 09/05/2023 08:25

MaydinEssex · 09/05/2023 00:05

Where is Princess Anne?

She’s next to her husband behind the very tall Kate!!

Mrsjayy · 09/05/2023 08:34

Some people get so pre occupied with "working " Royals it becomes an obsession. This was a state and family occasion why shouldn't the Queens family be there. I think the photo is self explanatory.