It’s been a minute since the British royal family set foot on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Their last appearance was on June 15, 2024 to mark King Charles’s summer birthday for Trooping the Colour—an annual occasion and, barring weddings, jubilees and coronations, the only reliable time they can all be seen at the iconic spot. But this year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the palace just confirmed that not only will Prince William and Kate Middleton be there to honor it, but so will King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other core members of the royal fam.
Kate Middleton & Prince William Are Set to Appear on Buckingham Palace Balcony—and It’s For a Surprising Occasion
Save the royal date
Published Apr 28, 2025
•5:05pm
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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence and the Duke of Kent are all set to join, too, as the family observes military units processing down the Mall as well as a flypast over the Queen Victoria Statue in London on May 5, according to the BBC. This moment—which will also include British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, on the balcony—kicks off a series of commemorative events in honor of Victory in Europe Day, an occasion that marks the formal end of World War II. (Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.)
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Of course, any balcony appearance for Kate and William is a big deal, but the last one was especially significant since it was the first time Kate had stepped out for an official public event since sharing the news of her cancer treatment in March 2024. VE Day is also a particularly poignant moment for the royals, not just because of its historic implications, but also because of Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with it.
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The late monarch, who was 19 at the time, shared in a rare interview with the BBC in 1985 about how she, alongside her sister Princess Margaret, left the palace incognito to join the celebrations, calling it “one of the most memorable nights of my life.” (It was the only time in her life that she was given permission to do so.)
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Now, the May 5 balcony appearance won’t be the same without the entire royal clan (ahem, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will be missed), but it will still be a noticeable and meaningful change in royal tradition. Besides, Trooping the Colour is coming up right behind it on June 14—fingers crossed the fam will all be back for that.
