2018 has been a year of major milestones for the British Royal Family: from weddings and world tours to babies and birthdays, it’s definitely been one for the history books. And with a new royal on the way in 2019, the new year promises to be just as momentous. But before we bid farewell to 2018, we’re looking back at the royal year that was.
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We ended 2017 still elated and excited about the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and we opened 2018 with the news that another Royal wedding was on the way. In January Princess Eugenie announced she was engaged to longtime boyfriend Jack Brooksbank and that the couple (who met on a ski trip in 2010) would walk down the aisle in October.
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Also in January, Princess Charlotte, the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, achieved her own milestone moment, the little lady was officially attending nursery school!
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Duchess Kate, pregnant with her third child, showed off her growing baby bump while visiting Roe Green Junior School to launch the Mentally Healthy Schools program.
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William, Kate, Harry, and fiancée Meghan made their "Fab Four" debut in February at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum where Meghan spoke of the importance of women's rights.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to London to meet with Queen Elizabeth in April as Her Royal Highness hosted the heads of government of the Commonwealth countries.
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On April 23rd, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially became the patriarch and matriarch of a family of five with the arrival of their third child, son Prince Louis Arthur Charles.
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On May 19, the event the world had been waiting for with baited breath finally arrived, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The big day went off without a hitch and included touching moments like Prince Charles walking his new daughter-in-law down the aisle after it was confirmed her father would not, in fact, be in attendance. The ceremony was attended by celebs like Oprah, George and Amal Clooney, Victoria and David Beckham, Tom Hardy and Priyanka Chopra.
Meghan was pretty as a princess in both the Givenchy gown she wore for the wedding ceremony and the Stella McCartney number she wore to the reception.
And in a magical Canadian moment, the former "Suits" actress - who lived in Toronto for several years - recognized Canadian celebrity photographer George Pimentel during the ceremonial carriage ride she and Prince Harry took following their wedding, as onlookers waved on.
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Barely a week after their star-studded nuptials, Harry and Meghan, sporting that newlywed glow, attend their first function as a married couple, a Buckingham Palace event celebrating Prince Charles' 70th birthday.
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Still basking in the positive vibes from the momentous wedding, the family gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in July for the annual Trooping of the Colour.
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In June Kensington Palace announced that for their first official tour as a married couple, Harry and Meghan would be visiting Australia, Fiji, The Kingdom of Tonga, and New Zealand in the fall.
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Barely a month after becoming an official member of the Royal Family, Meghan attended her first royal engagement solo, sans Harry, accompanying his grandmother Queen Elizabeth to the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge. The two were spotted sharing a laugh or two at the event.
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In early July, the family gathered all together again for another major milestone - the christening of Prince Louis at St. James' Palace.
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For their first trip outside of England as a married couple, Harry and Meghan visited Ireland where they took part in several activities including a visit to the British Embassy and meeting the Irish President.
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Duchesses Kate and Meghan made their debut as a terrific twosome in July as the sisters-in-law attended Wimbledon to watch Meghan's good friend, Serena Williams, hit the court. The tennis super star was one of the celebrity guests at Meghan and Harry's wedding in May.
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In September, Meghan and Harry, along with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, attended the launch of the Together cookbook, a project on which Meghan worked with members of the Hubb Community Kitchen to raise money for those affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London. Harry seemed impressed by his new wife's public speaking skills and commitment to the cause.
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Five months after Harry and Meghan made it official at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, Harry's cousin Princess Eugenia and Jack Brooksbank tied the knot at the same location. Their nuptials were attended by celebs like Ellie Goulding, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Demi Moore.
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Three days after Princess Eugenie's wedding, Kensington Palace announced another big family event was on the way - Harry and Meghan were expecting their first baby. The royal arrival is set for Spring 2019.
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In honour of Prince Charles' 70th birthday on Nov. 14, Clarence House released two new photos of the royal family including this more candid shot of the regal relatives enjoying a laugh with Prince George perched on his grandfather's lap.
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Shortly after announcing they were expecting, Harry and Meghan headed to the land Down Under to embark on their first official tour. The couple spent two jam-packed whirlwind weeks dazzling crowds (and koalas) in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga.
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In December Meghan surprised the A-list audience at the 2018 British Fashion Awards in London when she took the stage to present Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller (the designer behind her iconic wedding gown) with the British designer of the year award. Meghan stunned in a black velvet Givenchy gown with her growing baby bump on full display.
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On Dec. 14 Kensington Palace released this adorable family photo of William, Kate and their three children, announcing it would also serve as the Cambridge's official holiday card. The casually-clad clan smiles brightly while Prince George strikes a pose and Princess Charlotte serve up some sass.
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Also on Dec. 14, Kensington Palace released this photo of Harry and Meghan, snapped during the evening of their wedding reception on May 19th. The black and white snap features the newlyweds embracing while fireworks light up the night sky. The photo will also serve as the parents-to-be holiday card.