As a 9-year-old girl, then Princess Elizabeth appeared with her family on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to mark her grandfather George V’s Silver Jubilee.

Elizabeth, now 96, is expected to take to the same balcony this Thursday to smile and wave at millions celebrating her Platinum Jubilee and 70 years as monarch.

Historian Ed Owens says the balcony appearance became the centre piece of almost all royal celebrations in the U.K. starting in the 1930s.

“That’s when if you like, the visual imagery of the modern royal balcony appearance. It really is emblazoned in the national imaginary because suddenly we have close ups of the photo opportunities and the newsreel cameras pointed up at the balcony giving audiences, not just in London but around the country, via their newspapers, via the cinemas,” Owens explains.

This year it will be notable for the absence of Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Queen Elizabeth has decided only working royals will be included for the photo moment.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William and his family will be on the balcony next to the queen.

Harry, Meghan and their children still plan to travel from the United States to the U.K. for the festivities.