Lady Louise Windsor among royal family members axed from Buckingham Palace balcony appearance to mark VE day
The royal family has gathered on the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day but several notable family members were cut from the line up.
The British government has planned a series of events in the run-up to the anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender that took effect on May 8, 1945.
In 1945, VE Day was greeted by wild celebrations in London and across Britain.
On that historic day, the future Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret famously stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony with their parents King George VI and the Queen Mother alongside Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Elizabeth, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret later slipped out to join the throng outside the palace, believed to be the only time during her 96 years she mingled with the public unrecognised.
Exactly eight decades later, her descendants stood on the same balcony to watch a grand military parade and fly-past on Monday.
The ever-shrinking balcony lineup featured one of the smallest contingents of royals to date as King Charles' vision for a 'slimmed down' monarchy continues to take shape.
Charles, 77, was joined by Queen Camilla as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, who were placed to the monarch's left.
On the right, the King was flanked by his sister Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Rounding out the line up directly behind Charles was the Duke of Kent, who at 89 is currently the oldest working royal family member.
Noticeably absent were the Edinburgh children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, who typically stand with their parents during public appearances.
It is unclear why Edward and Sophie's children were axed, although Lady Louise is currently living in Scotland for her university studies.
Working royals the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were not present on the balcony for unknown reasons.
Also nowhere to be seen were the notorious Duke and Duchess of York, who recently made a surprise appearance with the royal family for the Easter Mattins church service.
Appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony is a time honoured tradition dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria.
During Queen Elizabeth II's reign more than thirty extended family members often crowded onto the balcony while at the King's coronation the appearance was limited to about a dozen 'working royals'.
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