What the British Royal Family Looked Like the Year You Were Born
What the British Royal Family Looked Like the Year You Were Born
The world may change dramatically, but there's one thing that's for sure: The British Royal Family will endure. We're taking a look back from the days of King George V to Prince George.
1918: A Royal Anniversary
King George V and Queen Mary celebrate their silver anniversary. They married July 6, 1883.
1919: Family Outing
King George V, Queen Mary, and their youngest son Prince John leave the Great Allied War Photographic Exhibition.
1920: The Duke
The future King George VI (then named Albert) is made Duke of York. Here, he poses while dressed in his robes for the House of Lords.
1921: Game Time
The Duke of York kicks off a charity football game between Tottenham Hotspurs and Corinthians.
1922: A Royal Wedding
Princess Mary marries Viscount Lascelles.
1923: Another Royal Wedding
The Duke of York (the future King George VI) marries Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the future Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother). Also this year, Princess Mary gives birth to George Lascelles (7th Earl of of Harewood).
1924: A Royal Baby
Princess Mary gives birth to a son, Gerald Lascelles.
1925: Family Getaway
The Duke of Kent, Queen Mary, Elizabeth, Duchess of York, and George, Duke of York visit Balmoral Castle.
1926: A Future Queen is Born
The Duke and Duchess of York hold Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) at her christening.
1927: Baby Queen
A portrait of the young future queen, who bears more than a passing resemblance to her great-granddaughter Charlotte.
1928: Royals, En Route
King George V and Queen Mary in a carriage on their way to the Knights of St John Ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
1929: Holiday Travels
Princess Elizabeth on the platform at King's Cross station, about to depart with her Royal grandparents for Christmas holidays at their Norfolk country home, Sandringham.
1930: Royal Sister
The Duchess of York and Princess Elizabeth pose with the new Princess Margaret, who was born on August 21.
1931: Anniversary Celebration
The Duke and Duchess of York accompany Princesses Elizabeth and niece Diana, at Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland, for the Golden Wedding celebrations of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, the Duchess's parents.
1932: Joining the Grandparents
Princess Elizabeth accompanies King George V and Queen Mary to a church service at Crathie, near Balmoral.
1933: Three Royal Generations
King George V, the Duke and Duchess of York, and Princess Elizabeth take a trip in the Royal carriage.
1934: A Royal Wedding
Prince George, Duke of Kent (son of George V and Queen Mary) marries Princess Marina.
1935: King George V's Silver Jubilee
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret wave from the balcony with King George V and Queen Mary. Also this year, Prince Henry (son of George V and Queen Mary) marries Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, and King George V's sister, Princess Victoria, dies.
1936: Funeral For a King
King George V dies, Edward ascends to become King Edward VIII, then abdicates the throne 326 days later to marry Wallis Simpson. Here, he walks in his father's funeral procession with his brothers.
1937: A New King
After his brother abdicates the throne, the Duke of York becomes King George VI. Here, we see His Royal Highness with Queen Elizabeth and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on Coronation Day.
1938: Royal Watching
Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Mary (center) and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret observe the presentation of new colors to Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace.
1939: King's Chorus
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth sing a song at the King's Camp at Abergeldie Castle, with Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth.
1940: The Dawn of a Difficult Time
The family poses together. Later this year, Buckingham Palace would be bombed during the Blitz, then again in November.
1941: A Stiff Upper Lip
The King and Queen stayed in London during the war, and could be frequently out in public surveying damage. Here, they visit Salford.
1942: The Family Gathers
The King and Queen pose with Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth. This year, tragedy hits when Prince George, Duke of Kent (King George's brother) is killed in active service only weeks after his son Michael is born.
1943: Doing Their Part
Queen Elizabeth leads King George VI, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret around Sandringham Park, which was turned over to agricultural production to assist the war effort.
1944: The Princess Does Her Part
Here, we can see Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, doing technical repair work during her military service in WWII.
1945: Victory Day
King George VI and Winston Churchill, who became close friends during WWII, appear together on balcony during Victory Day celebrations
1946: In The Garden
This year, King George VI addresses the United Nations at their first assembly. Here, he takes a moment with his family.
1947: A Royal Engagement and Wedding
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip marry on November 20 after getting engaged in July.
1949: Princess Honors
Prince Philip, who was appointed Chancellor of the University of Wales, presents an honorary doctorate in music to his wife, Princess Elizabeth.
1951: Young Family Portrait
Princess Elizabeth takes a quiet moment with her Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne.
1952: The End of an Era
King George VI dies on February 6. Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen Elizabeth II, with Queen Elizabeth taking the name "Queen Mother" to avoid confusion between the two. Here, they watch the funeral proceedings.
1953: The Beginning of an Era
Queen Elizabeth is officially coronated on June 2, 1953.
1954: Royal Wave
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Ann salute the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace following a trip around the world.
1955: A (Minor) Scandal
Princess Margaret calls off plans to marry Captain Peter Townsend after not getting the required consent from her sister. Townsend was Equarry to King George VI and also Queen Elizabeth II.
1956: Two Queens
The Queen and the Queen mother sit on the grass to watch the Badminton Horse Trials.
1957: A Royal Driver
Queen Elizabeth II takes a ride with Prince Charles and Princess Anne as passengers.
1958: At the Races
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Queen Mother visit the Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Derby.
1959: Family Time
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne relax with Sugar, the Queen's corgi.
1960: Royal Brothers
Prince Andrew (seen here with Prince Charles) is born on February 19th. This year, Princess Margaret marries Tony Armstrong-Jones.
1961: The Young Viscount
Princess Margaret holds her newborn son David Albert Armstrong-Jones (Viscount Linley).
1962: School Days
Prince Charles arrives at Gordonstoun School in Scotland for his first term. Here, he's with Captain Iain Tennant, chairman of the board of governors.
1963: A Salute Abroad
During the opening of the New Zealand parliament, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip take a moment for the royal salute and national anthem.
1964: Another Brother
Prince Edward is born on March 10. The proud parents show off the new Prince, along with Prince Andrew.
1965: Birthday Celebration
Queen Elizabeth II turns 39. Here, she spends time with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Charles on her birthday at Windsor.
1966: World Cup Champs
Queen Elizabeth II presents the Jules Rimet trophy to the captain of the British team following England's world title win at the World Cup in Wembley.
1967: University Bound
Prince Charles starts his term at Trinity College in October. He'd study archaeology and physical and social anthropology in his first year course.
1968: Princely Procession
Here, Prince Charles and the Queen Mother lead a procession of Knights of the Garter after the Prince was invested as a member.
1969: Acting Out
Prince Charles shows his creative side with friends, acting in a sketch comedy.
1970: Princess Portrait
Princess Margaret poses with her children Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones.
1971: Pilot Prince
Prince Charles is assessed as an "above average" pilot following his basic flying training.
1972: Mourning the Duke
The Duke of Windsor dies on May 28. At the funeral, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip talks to Wallace Simpson, the Duchess Of Windsor.
1973: Royal Wedding
Princess Anne marries Mark Phillips on November 14.
1974: A Foiled Kidnapping Attempt
Princess Anne narrowly escapes a kidnapping attempt thanks to the help of Inspector James Beaton, journalist Brian McConnell, and Detective Constable Peter Edmonds (shown here, with Princess Anne, Captain Mark Phillips, and Queen Elizabeth II).
1975: Family Vacation
The Queen, Prince Philip, and their sons take a holiday in Balmoral.
1976: Opening Ceremony
The Queen opens the Montreal Olympics. Her daughter, Princess Anne, would compete in the equestrian events.
1977: Silver Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II rides in her Golden coach with Prince Philip during her Silver jubilee celebration.
1978: Low-Key Royal Wedding
Prince Michael of Kent (Queen Elizabeth's cousin) marries Baroness Christine von Reibnitz in the Town Hall in Vienna. Here, they pose for pictures outside the British Embassy. Also this year, Princess Margaret divorces Tony Armstrong-Jones.
1979: Mother-Daughter Bonding
Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth II go for a horse ride on the grounds of the Sandringham estate.
1980: A New Relationship
Charles starts seeing Lady Diana Spencer over the summer. After a brief courtship, they announce their engagement next February.
1981: The Wedding of the Century
It's the image nearly everyone knows: Prince of Wales marries Lady Diana Spencer on July 29.
1982: A Royal Announcement
Prince William is born on June 21. William is second in line to the throne at the time of his birth, a position he still holds today.
1983: New Family Portrait
Prince Charles and Princess Diana pose with Prince William, who clutches her favorite toy, a koala bear.
1984: William Gets a Brother
Prince Harry is born on September 15.
1985: Family Appearance
During the Trooping the Colour ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II gathers with family: the Queen Mother, Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Philip, Lord Nicholas Windsor, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Princess Diana, and Prince William.
1986: Andrew Marries
Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson on July 23, becoming the Duke and Duchess of York.
1987: William Goes to School
Princess Diana accompanies Prince William on his first day of school (at Wetherby School).
1988: Royal Cousin
The Duke and Duchess of York welcome Princess Beatrice on August 8.
1989: Wedding Duty
Prince Harry performs the role of pageboy at the wedding of his uncle, Viscount Althorp, on September 17. Here, he's with his cousins Eleanor and Alexander Fellowes.
1990: Beatrice Gets a Sister
The Duke and Duchess of York welcome Princess Eugenie on March 23.
1991: The Queen Visits America
While in Washington, D.C., Queen Elizabeth II delivers a speech in the Capitol.
1992: A Bad Year
Princess Anne and Captain Phillips divorce, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York separate, and, on top of that, Windsor Castle catches fire. This year would end up being referred to as the Queen's "annus horribilis."
1993: Scandals and Separation
Headlines are made with the publication of Prince of Wales's private conversation with Camilla Parker Bowles, and when the Duke and Duchess of York announce their separation. Here, Princess Diana takes Princes Harry and William on vacation.
1994: Family Appearance
Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Princess Diana appear at a parade during V.J. Day commemorations
1995: Cousins, on Vacation
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice hang out with Princes Harry and William in Klosters, Switzerland.
1996: Official Divorces
Princess Diana and Prince Charles divorce this year, along with the Duke and Duchess of York.
1997: Unthinkable Tragedy
Princess Diana dies on August 31, following a car crash in Paris.
1998: Two Princes
Prince Harry and Prince William attend Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church.
1999: Another Wedding
Queen Elizabeth's youngest child, Prince Edward, marries Sophie Rhys-Jones on June 19. They become the Earl and Countess of Wessex. This year, Charles and Camilla have their first official date.
2000: Celebrating a Century
The Queen Mother celebrates her 100th birthday on August 4.
2001: William Goes to University
Prince William starts at St Andrew's University Scotland, where he would meet his future wife, Kate Middleton.
2002: Highs and Lows
The year 2002 brings Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, but it's touched by sad events when Princess Margaret dies on February 9, followed by the Queen Mother on March 30.
2003: Little Lady
Lady Louise Windsor is born to the Earl and Countess of Wessex on November 8.
2004: End of an Era
Princess Alice, wife of Prince Henry (the son of King George V and Queen Mary) dies at 102.
2005: Prince Charles Marries
The Prince of Wales marries Camilla Parker Bowles (who became the Duchess of Cornwall) on April 9. Unfortunately, this isn't the only big headline of the year: Prince Harry shocks the world when he shows up at a costume party with a swastika armband.
2006: An Officer and a Prince
Prince Harry completes officer training. Here, he smiles as he chats with Queen Elizabeth II during the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy.
2007: The Young Viscount
The Earl and Countess of Wessex announce the birth of James, Viscount Severn is born.
2008: Royal Friendship
Queen Elizabeth chats with Nelson Mandela, who was celebrating his 90th birthday.
2009: Princess Anne's Tour
Princess Anne becomes the first British Royal to visit Kosovo since its independence during her three-day visit.
2010: A Fine Engagement
Prince William proposes to Kate Middleton with his mother's famous sapphire-and-diamond ring on October 20. They make the official announcement in an appearance on November 16.
2011: The Wedding of This Century
Prince William marries Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29. They are given the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The next day, Prince William went back to work as a search-and-rescue pilot, delaying their honeymoon.
2012: Diamond Jubilee
The 60th anniversary of Elizabeth becoming Queen is a multinational celebration. The only other time a monarch celebrated her Diamond Jubilee was in 1897. Yet again, Prince Harry grabs headlines when nude photos are published from a trip to Las Vegas.
2013: The Tiniest Prince
The world celebrates when Prince George is born on July 22. He becomes third in line for the throne.
2014: Royals Take New York
Duchess Catherine and Prince William visit New York City during a whirlwind 3-day trip.
2015: The Tiniest Princess
More celebrations when Princess Charlotte is born on May 2. She becomes the fourth in line for the throne.
2016: A Big Birthday
Celebrations are held for the Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday, but it's her coat (and her great-grandchildren) that end up grabbing headlines.
2017: A Royal Engagement
In November 2017, Prince Harry announced his engagement to American actress Meghan Markle. The happy couple posed for photos at Kensington Palace when the news was announced. Harry and Meghan quickly started planning their May 2018 royal wedding, which was held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
2018: The Royal Family Grows
2018 has been a big year for the British royals. In April, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed Prince Louis and the following month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in a grand royal wedding. The newly-minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex posed for their official wedding portrait with numerous other royals, including the Queen and Prince Philip, and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined in as a page boy and bridesmaid.
From weddings to funerals, births to coronations, and, of course, a few scandals in between.
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