In total, that means 18 people - fewer than in previous years - and notably no Prince Harry or his wife Meghan, nor Prince Andrew.
From coronations to weddings, the Buckingham Palace balcony has been an essential part of the British royal family's image for more than a century.
On Thursday, it will be in the limelight once again as public events get underway to mark the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
For the record-breaking 70 years of the 96-year-old monarch on the throne, numbers have been cut out on the balcony.
The Queen has ordered that only "working royals" can be present to greet the crowd at the conclusion of the Trooping the Color military parade.
In total, that means 18 people - fewer than in previous years - and notably no Prince Harry or his wife Meghan, nor Prince Andrew.
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in early 2020 and moved to California, where they now live with their two young children.
The Queen's second son Andrew has kept a low profile since late 2019, following outrage in defense of his friendship with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
He was stripped of his honorary military title and charitable duties earlier this year, just before settling a US civilian case for sexual assault.
After two difficult years for Britain's most famous family, this week the message from the red-and-gold-covered balcony will be clear: no more drama.
Over the years, the balcony has become the shop window to the monarchy. Images of the emperor waving to the mass crowd below have been spread around the world.
- Expose to War -
Queen Victoria introduced a new way of greeting her subjects in 1851, opening the Great Exhibition, a later Expo of Culture and Industry.
Seven years later, the family took their position on the balcony for the future King of Prussia, for the wedding of the Queen's eldest daughter, also known as Victoria.
On August 4, 1914, the crowd on The Mall outside the palace called on King George V after the country declared war against Germany.
In November 1918, thousands of Londoners cheered for the King and Queen after the armistice in front of the palace's distinctive Portland stone façade.
In 1935, Princess Elizabeth, then just nine years old, greeted a crowd gathered for the 25th anniversary celebration of the accession of her grandfather George Vas.
Two years later, she was on the balcony for the coronation of her father, George VI.
On May 8, 1945, after Nazi Germany was defeated by Allied forces, Prime Minister Winston Churchill joined the family to mark the Victory in Europe Day.
Princess Elizabeth was there again in 1947, after marrying Prince Philip and then coronated as Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
- monarchy on show -
There is nothing left to chance among these high-profile appearances.
The queen is front and center and usually wears brightly colored clothes. The men of the highest rank are usually in full military dress uniforms. Women wear hats.
Sometimes history is made, such as when the heir to the throne, Prince Charles and his new bride, Princess Diana, kissed on the balcony after their wedding in 1981.
Andrew did the same thing when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, as did Charles and Diana's eldest son, Prince William, after marrying Kate Middleton.
Yet it is not the vision of the family that matters.
Royal writer Mark Roche said, "Throughout her reign, the Queen has prioritized the monarchy over family and personal considerations."
"It is important for them to show the monarchy on the balcony, not the family," he told AFP.
The Queen, who has cut back on her public appearances since last October and has difficulty standing and walking, is expected to appear on the balcony on Thursday.
From there, he would watch a ceremonial fly-past of military aircraft, which traditionally ends his official birthday celebrations.
But she could also make a second appearance on Sunday alongside three of her immediate heirs - Charles, William and their eight-year-old son George.
The Daily Mirror said last week that she wants "the world to see the heartbeat of her family and the future of the monarchy" - as long as she feels well enough.
"If we don't see the Queen at the anniversary, millions will be disappointed," Arthur Edwards, a veteran royal photographer from The Sun, told AFP.
"They come to London to see the concert and they're going to watch the pageant but what they really want to see is the Queen."