You’ve seen royals waving from the palace balcony, but what’s actually happening up there? On the screen it seems like the monarch and his family are looking directly at the cheering crowd, but the truth is, they can’t actually see much of what’s going on. That's because the large Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace blocks their view of the Mall, where the majority of the royal fans are lined up. That’s why the royals have small hidden televisions where they can watch both themselves and the commoners below them. They’re placed in the corners of the balcony and are covered in red fabric so they can be hidden. Every time there’s a major royal or national event, the royals gather on the balcony. Who's allowed to stand on the balcony is up to the monarch. Technically, there are no fixed rules about who’s allowed on the balcony, but in recent years, access has been limited to working royals. Over time, it has become the place for the royals to wave to the crowds of commoners on all important royal or national occasions.
