Slimmed-down Royal line-up appears on palace balcony (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Slimmed-down Royal line-up appears on palace balcony

5:12pm Tuesday 5th June 2012 in National Jubilee News

It was a slimmed-down monarchy on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today for the flypast finale to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

A decade ago during the Golden Jubilee, 20 members of the Royal Family took to the famous front of the Queen's London home to watch a traditional airborne display.

Today was a much less crowded affair, with just six royals coming out to greet the crowds.

The Queen was joined by only those at the very top of the succession list and their wives.

Alongside the monarch was her elder son and heir to the throne the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, second in line to the throne the Duke of Cambridge and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, and third in line Prince Harry.

In 2002, the long line of royals stretched all the way across the balcony and included the Queen's other three children the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex, along with grandchildren Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Peter Phillips.

Also there were a number of extended family - the Queen's cousins the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Princess Michael of Kent among others.

Buckingham Palace said that for logistical and practical reasons, only those in the carriage procession appeared on the balcony today.