Throughout 2018, it was utterly impossible to ignore the British royal family.
Although the reigning Queen and her family always generate a lot of media attention worldwide,
this past year was even more exciting than usual.
Let's take a look back on the royal family's biggest moments of 2018.
Queen Elizabeth's 92nd birthday
To celebrate her 92nd birthday on April 21st, the queen attended a concert in her honor
at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by many members of the royal family, including Prince
Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle.
The concert was also brimming with big-name stars, featuring special performances by Kylie
Minogue, Shawn Mendes, Sting, and Shaggy, among others.
Apparently, Queen Elizabeth can rock out with the best of them.
During the event, Prince Harry paid tribute to his grandmother and announced the launch
of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust to support young leaders throughout the Commonwealth.
Needless to say, it was an unforgettable celebration for an unforgettable woman.
The birth of Prince Louis
On the morning of April 23rd, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to Prince George and
Princess Charlotte’s youngest sibling, Prince Louis, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London.
Royal fans eagerly awaited outside the Lindo Wing of the hospital, and a framed notice
of birth was displayed on a ceremonial easel outside of the Palace, as is tradition.
Fans were treated to the adorable sight of Prince William walking Prince George and Princess
Charlotte into the hospital to meet their new baby brother, and later that evening,
Prince William and Kate Middleton introduced the new little prince to the world before
returning to Kensington Palace.
Prince Harry’s American bride
Perhaps the most talked-about event of the year was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's
royal wedding.
The big day took place on May 19th, and although most of the world couldn't be there in person
to witness it, the ceremony was broadcast live across the globe.
Harry and Markle’s wedding took place at St. George's Chapel, and combined royal tradition
with some modern flair.
Reverend Michael Curry, the first African-American to preside over the Episcopal Church, gave
a rousing sermon, Prince Charles walked the bride down the aisle, and Markle’s mother
sat alone during the ceremony, beaming with pride while watching her daughter marry into
royalty.
After the ceremony, the new Duke and Duchess rode in a carriage through Windsor before
attending their private reception at St. George's Hall, waving to the hoards of cheering fans
waiting to catch a glimpse of the royal love birds.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's honeymoon
After the royal wedding, many wondered where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would spend
their honeymoon.
Though where they vacationed is still a mystery, there are a few theories floating around regarding
possible locations.
Roya Nikkah, a royal correspondent for The Sunday Times, believes they spent time in
Africa, as the continent was one of the first places the couple traveled to together and
is reportedly where they fell in love.
Unfortunately, we’ll probably never know where the couple went for sure.
As royal expert Omid Scobie explained to ELLE, Meghan and Harry wished to keep their honeymoon
details as private as possible.
Scobie revealed:
"The couple shared so much during the wedding and [their honeymoon] is the time for them
to enjoy some privacy."
Prince Louis' christening
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had little Prince Louis baptized on July 9th at St. James
Palace.
Years old British traditions were included within the event, such as Prince Louis’
christening gown, which is a replica of the Victorian-era gown used during royal baptisms
from 1841 until the queen officially retired it in 2004.
In an adorable addition to royal tradition, the top three tiers of Prince William and
Kate Middleton's wedding cake were used for Prince Louis’ christening cake.
Princess Eugenie's royal wedding
Move over, Harry and Meghan!
There’s a new royal couple in town.
The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank took place on October 12th, just months after
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot.
The two got married at St. George's Chapel, and the queen held a celebration for the newlyweds
at Windsor Castle after the ceremony.
A few days before the wedding, Princess Eugenie and her groom-to-be gave an interview in which
they recounted their first meeting on a ski trip with friends.
According to Eugenie, it was love at first sight.
“And I thought, ‘Who’s that?’
And then you came over and shook my hand and I was all butterflies and nervous.”
Meghan Markle's pregnancy announcement
Only a few days after Princess Eugenie's wedding, it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan
Markle were expecting a baby due in the spring of 2019.
The announcement was met with both surprise and happiness ... as well as a few questions.
Many wondered if it would affect or prevent Harry and Meghan's royal tour, but according
to royal expert Jamie Samhan, the new duchess is not only determined, but quite fearless.
Samhan told Marie Claire:
“Even Fiji and Tonga, where Zika is a mild risk, is still a go.
Meghan has said before she doesn’t like to sit still, and I don’t see this pregnancy
changing that.”
A new baby for Pippa
More exciting baby news came right after Markle's pregnancy announcement when Kate Middleton's
younger sister, Pippa Middleton, gave birth to her first child with husband James Matthews.
Pippa welcomed a healthy baby boy on October 16th in the same hospital where Kate delivered
her own three children.
Kensington Palace released a short statement to the press about Pippa’s new little one,
saying:
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are thrilled for Pippa and James."
We can’t wait to see pictures from the royal play dates to come!