Following the heartbreaking death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon, the UK has entered a period of National Mourning. It is a time when the nation can reflect on the incredible life of the late Queen, as many traditions and formalities take place across the country. A moment that would often bring a smile to people's faces is whenever Queen Elizabeth II would appear with members of the Royal Family on the iconic balcony of Buckingham Palace. For decades, the balcony has been used for members of the Royal Family to greet adoring crowds at events such as jubilees, royal weddings, and the Trooping the Colour. Fun fact; the balcony is actually one of the most modern aspects of Buckingham Palace, with it being designed and built after Queen Victoria complained about the lack of space for entertaining when she was living at the palace in 1845. Her husband, Prince Albert, suggested a balcony be included as part of the new façade of the building. Queen Victoria would go on to make the first recorded royal balcony appearance at the opening of the Great Exhibition in 1851. Fast forward to June 27, 1927, and a then-Princess Elizabeth of York made her first appearance on the balcony when she was just 14 months old. <img class="size-large wp-image-1263168671" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/09/G5F98E-1024x806.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="806" />[[imagecaption|| A 14-month-old Princess Elizabeth making her first Buckingham Palace balcony appearance. Credit: PA Images / Alamy]] The image can be seen colorized below: <img class="size-large wp-image-1263168672" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/09/2JD6JBC-880x1024.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="1024" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Chroma Collection / Alamy]] She can be seen alongside King George V, Queen Mary, and her parents The Duke and Duchess of York - who had recently returned from an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand. At the time, she wasn't even in line to become queen - it was only after her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936 that his younger brother, King George VI, would take over the royal duties. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/augustfenn/status/987175252286427136]] Nearly 95 years later, and the now Queen Elizabeth II would make her final appearance on the balcony - greeted by a roaring crowd. On Sunday June 5, 2022, the Queen made a surprise appearance on the balcony alongside son then-Prince Charles, daughter-in-law Camilla, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and her great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. <img class="size-large wp-image-1263168677" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/09/2JBD84M-1024x656.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="656" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images / Alamy]] She had appeared just three days prior at the Trooping of the Colour, but surprised the crowd on the Sunday when she appeared to mark the end of the nation's Platinum Jubilee celebration. The 96-year-old's appearance lasted just three minutes, but she shined bright in an all-green ensemble and her signature pearl necklaces. During her appearance, the joyous crowd sang the national anthem. <img class="size-large wp-image-1263168676" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/09/2JBD6R9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images / Alamy]] In his first national address as king, Charles III paid tribute to his beloved mother, saying: "And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. "Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. "May 'flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest'." <h6>Featured image credit: Mark Phillips / Alamy</h6>

Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's first and last time on the historic Buckingham Palace balcony

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