The Royal balcony - Showing the evolution of a dynasty

Think of the Royal Family... Chances are you'll picture 'that' balcony

Buckingham Palace's East Front balcony is synonymous with the UK Royal Family. A small crowd of royals huddled together and waving - it's an iconic image. Starting with the Coronation of King George VI back in May 1937, let's look at some classic photos of Royals on the balcony from down the years...

Celebrating the end of World War 2

The balcony has functioned as something of a focal point for public displays of unity from the monarchy down the years. Here we see King George VI, Princess Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), the to-be Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret celebrating VE Day at the end of the Second World War.

A balcony appearance is often to celebrate a Royal wedding

While the Royals will step out onto the East Front balcony for all manor of reasons, the main excuse for a mass wave comes when a member of the Royal Family gets wed. Here we see Princess Margaret and her husband Anthony Armstrong Jones on the balcony after their wedding on 6th May, 1960.

The balcony is also used to present the world with first glimpses of new royals

In this photograph, from June 1964, Queen Elizabeth II shows off her new son Prince Edward as she celebrates her official birthday. The event is marked annually with what's called the 'Trooping of the Colour' ceremony.

The balcony makes a fine place to show off a nice wedding dress

It's 1973 and Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth, has just married Captain Mark Phillips of the Queens Dragoon Guards at Westminster Abbey. First port of call after the ceremony? A visit to the balcony, of course...

Happy 80th, Ma'am!

It's 1980 here and the Queen Mother is on the balcony at Buckingham Palace alongside Princess Margaret (left) and the Queen (right) to wave hello and thank people for wishing her a happy 80th birthday. After their appearance they would all attend a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral.

A slightly less hyped Royal wedding

Five years after Charles and Di tied the knot, another Royal marriage ensured press coverage for the famed balcony. Sarah Ferguson marrying Prince Andrew to create the Duke and Duchess of York created slightly less of a stir, though.

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The balcony became a beacon of sadness in 1997

As crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace to mourn the tragic death of Princess Diana, the Royal balcony became something of a de facto homing beacon for those that came to pay their respect. Such is the magnetism of the thing through years of hosting Royal appearances.

Did the Queen Mother receive a letter from her own daughter...?

It's August 2000 in this image and the Royals are out in force to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother. We can also see the Queen Mother herself, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Prince Philip, Sophie Rhys-Jones, Prince William, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Princess Michael of Kent.

A newly-married 'Royal couple'

Charles and Diana's wedding was big, but it ended in (whisper it...) divorce. Much more positivity and love seems to surround the marriage of their son William to his bride, the effervescent Kate Middleton.

The Queen at 90

Standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to admire the special fly past intended to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday are Prince William and Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Charles and Camilla, The Queen herself, of course, and her husband, Prince Philip.