The Queen Makes Surprise Appearance on Balcony of Buckingham Palace with Heirs

The Platinum Jubilee celebrations came to a close on Tuesday, with the Queen making an unannounced appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Her Majesty delighted thousands of royal fans who had gathered in the mall to catch a glimpse of the monarch.

The Queen walked out of the palace with the help of her light walking stick and was accompanied by her son and heir, Prince Charles, as well as her grandson, Prince William, and great-grandson, Prince George.

The future of the monarchy was also represented on the balcony, with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in attendance.

Adorable Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte also joined their family on the balcony, sparking cheers from the crowd.

The Queen was wearing a dark green outfit and waved and smiled at those standing in the mall and around Queen Victoria's statue.

The crowds then joined the royals on the balcony in singing God Save the Queen, while the monarch looked on.

After the anthem ended, blue, white, and red smokes exploded in the air, which sparked a huge smile on the Queen's face.

Shortly after, the monarch returned inside her residence, followed by her family and thousands of clapping hands and cheers in her honor.

Sources revealed that the Queen wanted the world to see the heartbeat of her family and the future of the monarchy by stepping onto the balcony only with her direct heirs and their closest relatives.

Her Majesty believes it will send a strong message to the world that despite the family's trials and tribulations over the past few years, those at the very top are united in getting on with the job, sharing her sense of duty and dedication to serving the people of this country and the Commonwealth.

The royal appearance on the balcony came at the end of a spectacular pageant, which saw thousands of people performing through a three-kilometer-long route, including horse guards, Whitehall, and the Mall.

The four-act pageant included puppets, celebrities aboard double-decker buses, and poignant tributes to the seven-decade-long reign of the monarch.

While the Queen did not watch the performance in person, many members of her family gathered in the royal box located near the palace.

Alongside the royals on the balcony were also Mike and Zara Tindall with their daughters Lena and Mia.

Peter Phillips and their daughters Savannah and Isla were also in attendance, as was Princess Anne with her husband Sir Timothy Lawrence.

The spectacular pageants stunned the royal children in particular, with Charlotte, Louis, Mia, and Peter's daughters moving around their seats to better see the performers and discuss what was happening below the box.

Following the end of the Trooping the Colour parade, the Queen returned onto the balcony, this time accompanied by all the working royals in the firm, Sir Timothy Lawrence, the Cambridges children, and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.

The royal family shared plenty of pictures from the celebrations on their official Twitter accounts, but none of the pictures featured Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.

The Queen's appearance on the balcony was the perfect conclusion of an extended four-day bank holiday weekend filled with events celebrating the Sovereign's reign and life.

It was a momentous occasion for the monarchy, showcasing the future of the royal family and the unity of those at the very top.

The Queen's unannounced appearance on the balcony was a delightful surprise for royal fans, who will cherish the memory of this historic event for years to come.