As we head towards the start of a new year, we look back at some of this decade’s most memorable moments for the Queen and the British royal family.

1. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton – 29 April 2011

The first royal landmark of the decade came in late 2010 when Prince William proposed to his long-term partner, Catherine Middleton. The engagement was announced on 16 November and the wedding took place the following year on 29 April at Westminster Abbey. It was watched by 26.3m people in the UK as well as tens of millions more around the world. Soon after the wedding, the hereditary titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus were formally patented to Prince William by The Queen (Gazette issue 59798).

2. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations – 2012

The Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, marking 60 years since her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952 (Gazette issue 39467), was celebrated in 2012. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria, in 1897 (Gazette issue 26947). Commemorative events were held throughout the Commonwealth and a special supplement of The Gazette was released on 2 June (Gazette issue 60160), detailing the addresses given to the Queen by parliament and privileged bodies to mark the occasion.

3. The Queen meets James Bond – 27 July 2012

During Danny Boyle's memorable opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Her Majesty appeared in a sketch with Daniel Craig, who was playing James Bond. ‘007’ collects the Queen from Buckingham Palace to take her to the event at the Olympic Stadium. After greeting him, the Queen and her corgis walk with Bond along a corridor before they take a helicopter over London. The sketch concludes with a stunt double for the Queen parachuting into the stadium to the James Bond theme song.

4. The birth of Prince George Alexander Louis – 22 July 2013

The first son of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall was born on 22 July 2013 “at 4:24 o’clock” at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London (Gazette issue 60576). Prince George was the Queen’s third great-grandchild and was born third in the line of succession to the throne.

5. The birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – 2 May 2015

Two years later, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their second child, delivered at 8.34am on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London (Gazette issue 61216). Princess Charlotte was born fourth in the line of succession to the throne.

6. The Queen becomes the longest reigning British monarch in history – 9 September 2015   

On 9 September 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing the tenure of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. The Gazette commemorated the occasion with a Special Edition, marking the important milestones in the Queen’s life. However, the date itself was celebrated in a typically low-key manner by the Queen as she travelled with the Duke of Edinburgh by steam train from Edinburgh to Tweedbank and opened the new Scottish Borders Railway. 

7. The retirement of the Duke of Edinburgh – 2 August 2017

In May 2017, it was announced that the Duke of Edinburgh was retiring from public engagements at the age of 96, a decision which was fully supported by the Queen. His final scheduled duty came on 2 August of the same year, where he met Royal Marines who had recently completed a 1,664-mile trek. To mark over 65 years of public service, the Royal Mint celebrated Prince Philip with a special edition coin (Gazette issue 62002). Showing the Duke’s youthful portrait by designer Humphrey Paget, an inscription read “non sibi sed patriae”, meaning “not for self, but for country”.

8. The birth of Prince Louis Arthur Charles – 23 April 2018

On 23 April 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their third child. Born at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London at 11.01am (Gazette issue 62265), Prince Louis was born fifth in the line of succession to the British throne.

9. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – 19 May 2018

On 27 November 2017, Clarence House announced that Prince Harry would marry Meghan Markle in the spring of 2018. The wedding took place at Windsor Castle on 19 May 2018 and was watched by an estimated 27.7m people in the UK. On the morning of the wedding, the Queen conferred upon her grandson the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel (Gazette issue 62358). On her marriage, Markle became Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel.

10. The birth of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor – 6 May 2019

Almost a year after their marriage, on 6 May 2019, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex had their first child (Gazette issue 62640). Safely delivered at 5.26 in the morning, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor was the Queen’s eight great-grandchild.

See also

This month in history: Edward VIII abdication crisis

What is the 'Order of Wear' for British honours, decorations and medals?

Images:

Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

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Publication date: 13 December 2019