What the Royals got up to in 2018 The year’s highlights for the windsors
With that wedding, two new great-grandchildren for the Queen and a visit from Donald Trump, it’s been a memorable year for the Windsors. Royal writer Ingrid Seward looks back at the key moments
The Queen is reported to say of herself that if she stops, she drops – and 2018 was certainly the year she never stopped
There’s nothing like a Royal wedding or baby to lift the spirits – and 2018 provided us with both. an extraordinary 2.5 billion were estimated to have watched the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, broadcast from st George’s Chapel, Windsor, on 19 May. the 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh attended in spite of having had a hip operation only weeks beforehand, as did the Duchess of Cambridge, who had stunned us all by making a glamorous exit from hospital only seven hours after giving birth to Prince louis on 23 april.
the Queen is 92, but her royal duties were so tightly packed that when she missed a service at st
Paul’s Cathedral in late June, it was suggested she was doing too much. During the previous 10 days, she had attended the Garter Day events at Windsor Castle, five days of racing at Royal ascot and, at the height of the summer heatwave, she received guests at buckingham Palace for the Queen’s young leaders awards ceremony. the Queen is reported to say of herself that if she stops, she drops – and in 2018 she never stopped. Meanwhile the rest of the family were busy too… >>
1 The launch of the “Fab Four” brand
in February, Prince William and kate, Duchess of cambridge, together with Prince harry and his fiancée meghan markle, shared a stage together for the first time. they were showcasing the royal Foundation Forum, designed to help tackle mental health issues. harry revealed their heads together ideas had originally been put together on the “back of a fag packet”. and meghan wasted no time in bringing up the time’s up and me too movements, saying firmly, “there is no better time to shine a light on women feeling empowered.” to good-natured laughter, harry admitted there were healthy disagreements between the four of them. “it’s really good that we’ve got four different personalities, and we’ve all got the same passion to want to make a difference.”
2 Princess Charlotte waves for the crowds
on 23 april, kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of cambridge had given birth to a son weighing 8lb 7oz at st mary’s hospital, Paddington. the same afternoon Prince george and Princess charlotte arrived at the hospital with their father to meet their baby brother. While george looked apprehensive, charlotte waved and smiled at the crowds. stealing the show, she turned on the hospital steps to give a little extra wave.
3 Prince Charles leads Meghan up the aisle
the wedding order of service stated that thomas markle, meghan’s father, would walk his daughter up the aisle at her wedding to Prince harry on 19 may. however, after he suffered a heart attack, the Prince of Wales stepped in. the bride made her entrance to a fanfare, walking serenely behind the Dean of Windsor to handel’s
Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne, performed by soprano elin manahan thomas. she reached the organ screen and there, meghan was joined by the Prince of Wales. he whispered to her, “you look lovely. are you ok?” as meghan walked up the aisle Prince harry, who had been waiting nervously with best man, William, caught sight of her and his face lit up. “you look amazing,” he said as they drew level. then,
“thank you, Pa,” to Prince charles.
4 Harry lifts Meghan’s veil
it was one of the most romantic moments of the royal wedding, as Prince harry lifted meghan’s veil. at Prince William’s wedding, catherine middleton had her veil lifted by her father, michael. With thomas markle absent, meghan and harry had clearly decided he should do it – the ultimate romantic gesture. afterwards they faced each other and linked hands, gazing into each other’s eyes as they made their vows – and a cheer from the crowds outside reverberated around the 14th-century chapel.
The Queen is a master at making newcomers feel at home and welcomed Meghan into the Firm
5 Savannah silences Prince George
at this year’s trooping the colour in June, the royal Family assembled on the buckingham Palace balcony to see the fly-past. at one stage, seven-yearold savannah (Peter and autumn Phillips’ daughter, the Queen’s greatgranddaughter) clapped her hand over Prince george’s mouth, as he was starting to giggle during the playing of the national anthem.
6 The Queen and Meghan’s working relationship
the Queen is a master at making newcomers feel at home and, judging by the spontaneous laughter and whispered asides when the Duchess of sussex accompanied the Queen to cheshire, it was the perfect opportunity for the two women to establish an all-important rapport.
7 New baby arrives for Zara and Mike Tindall
the arrival of Zara and mike tindall’s second child, lena, just before the start of royal ascot, was a big cause for family rejoicing. “mrs mike tindall safely delivered a baby girl on 18 June, at stroud maternity unit,” the announcement from buckingham Palace stated. Zara suffered a miscarriage in December 2016 but a year later, during a working holiday in australia, revealed she was pregnant again.
8 Baby Louis laughs his way through his christening photocall
Prince louis – the first british Prince to be ranked behind an older sister in the line of succession – was blissfully unaware of the fuss that surrounded his christening on 9 July at the chapel royal, st James’s Palace. the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of cornwall were present, together with michael and carole middleton, the Duke and Duchess of sussex, James middleton, his sister Pippa and her husband James matthews. Following the service, 11-week-old louis squealed in delight at the antics of his siblings.
9 The RAF’s 100th anniversary fly-past
the royal Family gathered on 10 July to mark the 100th anniversary of the raF. after the service at Westminster abbey, an estimated 75,000 spectators in central london looked skywards as
100 aircraft performed a fly-past.
10 President Trump comes to town
her majesty met the us President on 13 July. there were reports that trump had kept the Queen waiting, but she was supposed to be there with the guard of honour well before him. much was made, however, of the President walking in front of the Queen during the inspection of the guards.
The Fab Four all share the same passion to make a difference