Royal family's powerful show of unity at Trooping the Colour balcony appearance

After a difficult six months, the royal family looked united as they stepped onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour celebrations despite wild weather.

Thankfully, the skies cleared just in time for the royal family's balcony appearance.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, 10 Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

A surprise addition came in the form of 20-year-old Lady Louise Windsor, who was not at the annual event last year but attended this year with her parents and stood by them on the balcony.

READ MORE: Kate returns to the public spotlight at Trooping the Colour

Other royals who took to the balcony included: Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

All of them looked to the skies during the traditional RAF flyover, with Louis pointing from the balcony as he took in the sight.

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Kate's public return as royals unite at Trooping the Colour

The day began overcast and rain started pouring down around noon, just before the Horse Guards Parade wrapped up, and continued as the royals arrived at the palace.

During the parade, Catherine was spotted speaking with her children on the balcony at the Duke of Wellington's former office, leaning close as son Louis pointed below.

His Majesty and the Queen watched the ceremony from a raised platform while Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne watched from horseback nearby.

The royals then headed to Buckingham Palace, but not before the skies opened up and bucketed rain down on London.

Wild winds tore at Queen Camilla's hat before she climbed into the Scottish State Coach with His Majesty to ride to the palace for their annual balcony appearance.

Fortunately, the weather turned sunny just in time for the royal family to take to the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Despite the weather, this year's Trooping the Colour has been a "triumph" for the monarchy after two shocking cancer diagnoses rocked the family.

King Charles and the Princess of Wales have both taken time away from public duties this year as they undergo cancer treatment, with Catherine making her first public appearance in over six months at the King's birthday celebrations.

READ MORE: 'Special meaning' behind Kate's dress during public return

"The King will be keen to project an image of the monarchy's strength and continuity," 9honey's royal reporter Natalie Oliveri recently wrote.

"Trooping the Colour, an event first held to mark the sovereign's official birthday in 1748, is the biggest display of royal pomp and ceremony.

"And even in the face of illness and ongoing family divisions, nothing will dampen the King's birthday parade."

Though the double diagnosis has presented an unprecedented challenge for the monarchy (senior royals have never before been so open with their health issues), it has also signalled a new era for the royal family.

Today, the King showed his dedication to this new chapter by bringing only a select few members of the wider royal family onto the balcony with him, in what seems to be a nod to his vision of a "slimmed-down" monarchy.

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