10 royal reasons to remember 2016

The Royal 2016 in a nutshell - Elizabeth reigned supreme

(photo BBC One still)

We had a big birthday, a baby boom and a Silver Jubilee - and that's just for starters. In a year that brought highs and lows and smiles and tears, some moments really stand out. As we say goodbye to the year that was, here are ten royal reasons to remember 2016.

The Royal A-Z...part three, Q to Z

The old year is almost done but as it prepares to take its final bow, there's one more chance to look back at the royal highlights of 2016. There are moments that will linger long in the memory and which have made their mark in regal history. To complete the Royal A-Z of 2016, here's Q to Z.

Happy New Year from Sweden's Royals

Sweden's Royal Family's New Year photo

(kungahuset.se)

It's definitely lucky thirteen for Sweden's royals. As they all cram into one photo to mark the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017, they couldn't be happier. And that's no surprise. The year just ending has been very good to them with two new princes, a big birthday, a big wedding anniversary and a landmark jubilee for Queen Silvia.

The Royal A-Z of 2016....part one, A to H

A whole royal year has been and is about to go. As 2016 says its final farewells and 2017 warms up round the corner, it's time to look back, reflect and remember. To sum up twelve months of royal fabulousness (April did a whole year's worth all by itself), here's the royal A-Z of 2016, starting with A-H...

The Royal 2016: King Carl XVI Gustaf at 70

The King and Queen of Sweden in a portrait marking Carl VXI Gustaf's 70th birthday

(photo kungahuset.se/ Peter Knutson)

Sweden's royals had quite a start to the year. After welcoming Prince Oscar at the start of March and Prince Alexander in the middle of April, they had a whole ten days to get the palace sorted before royals from across Europe arrived to celebrate the 70th birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf.

The Royal 2016: the royal great grandparents

The newest members of the royal great grandparents club

Belgium welcomed a brand new royal this year as the arrival of Anna Astrid, daughter of Prince Amadeo and his wife, Lili, turned King Albert II and Queen Paola into great grandparents for the first time.

The Royal 2016: Princess Martha Louise of Norway separates

Princess Martha Louise of Norway is separating from her husband. Ari Behn

(photo Royal Court of Norway/ Catherine Wessel)

Every year brings happiness and sadness, light and shade and in August. we learned that Princess Martha Louise of Norway had separated from her husband of fourteen years, Ari Behn. The couple's statement and their family's response to it were filled with all the sadness that comes with the end of a marriage. Here's a look back at how events unfolded this summer.

The Royal 2016: Kate in Vogue

The Duchess of Cambridge for the June Centenary Issue of British Vogue by Josh Olins

The Duchess of Cambridge cemented her place as a style star this year by appearing on the front cover of Vogue.  Kate starred in the June edition in a set of photos that were instantly poured over and dissected. She joined a long list of royals who have appeared on the front cover of Vogue while later in the year, Princess Eugenie starred in Harper's Bazaar. And she later attended an exhibition of the photos - all as part of the magazine's centenary. Here's a look back at Kate, the Vogue cover star.

The Royal 2016: another prince for Sweden

Prince Alexander of Sweden

Born April 19th 2016

(photo kungahuset/ Kate Gabor)

Until 2015, Prince Carl Philip was the only man in the Swedish line of succession. This year his son became the fourth man entitled to inherit the throne to which he himself had briefly been heir. Alexander of Sweden was the third prince born to the Swedish Royal Family in ten months and his arrival was yet another highlight in a golden time for this ruling house.

The Royal 2016: Heads Together

Heads Together for William, Kate and Harry 

(photo Kensington Palace video still)

William, Kate and Harry surprised us all by launching a new initiative as spring well and truly got under way. As the London Marathon made its way through the capital's streets, the royal trio announced their project, Heads Together. The umbrella for several charities, the initiative aims to change attitudes towards mental health issues. Since its launch in April 2016, the trio have taken part in many high profile events linked to it making it one of the royal stories of the year. Here's how Heads Together began.

The Royal 2016: Charlotte turns one

Princess Charlotte in one of four photos released to mark her first birthday on May 2nd

What a difference a year makes. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge turned one on May 2nd and starred in some special photos taken by her mum to mark the occasion. All birthdays are special for the family involved but when you're a royal princess and fourth in line to the throne, your first big day is going to get lots of attention. That's just what happened to Charlotte Elizabeth Diana on May 2nd 2016 - here's a look back at the first birthday of a princess.

The Royal 2016: a special wedding anniversary

The Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg in a portrait marking their 35th wedding anniversary, February 14th 2016

(photo Grand Cour Ducale/ Carole Bellaiche)

It's been a special year for the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg. Not only have they just welcomed a fourth grandchild with the birth of Prince Liam of Nassau but they began the year by marking their 35th wedding anniversary. There were special photos, there was an interview, there was a chance to look back at the first big royal wedding of 1981. Here's how Henri and Maria Teresa of Luxembourg marked their milestone.

The Royal 2016 - Madeleine, making fairytales come true

Time for a fairytale moment from the royal 2016. A beautiful princess in her perfect dress and sparkling with jewels appeared in a palace and sat down to tea. But this was no story book. Princess Madeleine of Sweden threw open the doors of her royal home in February this year to treat seriously ill children to an afternoon of pure magic.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden hosts a very special party for some very special children

(photo Kate Gabor/ kungahuset.se)

The Royal 2016: Harry in Nepal

All smiles on his first major tour of 2016 - Prince Harry in Nepal

Before the success of the Caribbean tour, before the cheers for the Invictus Games, Harry was already riding high on the cheers that went with his visit to Nepal. The prince visited the country in March, spending five days there. Every one of them proved hugely popular and cemented Harry's place at the heart of the royal 2016.

The Royal 2016: Maxima takes Paris

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands on day two of the State Visit to France

It's the city of light, the city of style, the city of chic and on her visit to Paris in March this year, Queen Maxima wowed with her wardrobe. From morning to night over two days, the Dutch consort was queen of royal fashion. As the nights get longer and the year grows shorter, here's a look back at what Maxima wore in the City of Light.

The Royal 2016: Prince Henrik scales down his duties

Prince Henrik began the New Year with surprising news

The New Year began with the surprise news that Prince Henrik of Denmark, consort of Queen Margrethe II, would be scaling back his official duties. The news was announced in the traditional New Year's Eve speech given by Margrethe. Just hours later, the couple made their first public appearance since...here's how Henrik's new royal life began.

The Royal 2016: Sophie's cycle ride

The Countess of Wessex during her mammoth bike ride for the Duke of Edinburgh Award

(photo Royal Family Twitter)

Every year is marked with big events - the births,  the marriages, the celebrations that make history and memories. But sometimes things just happen that make an impact all by themselves and the epic cycle ride that the Countess of Wessex undertook as her Diamond Challenge for the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is one of those. 2016 will be remembered for many royal events including Sophie's bike ride.

The Royal 2016: a prince is born

Oscar of Sweden, son of the Crown Princess, was born in 2016

(photo kungahuset.se)

To Victoria a son, to Sweden a prince. Oscar Carl Olof, Duke of Skane was born on March 2nd 2016, third in line to his country's throne and one of the most famous babies in the world from the moment he arrived. 

The Royal 2016: King Harald's Silver Jubilee

King Harald V and Queen Sonja ofNorway at the end of their Jubilee celebrations in January

(photo kongehuset.no)

The old year is winding to an end, getting ready for one final party and then heading off to leave us all with the memories. And what memories they have been. There's little doubt that 2016 has made its mark in the history books and there have been plenty of royal highlights along the way. Throughout December, we'll look back at some of the big moments that have made royal headlines in 2016 starting with a major royal event at the very beginning of the year - King Harald and Queen Sonja's Silver Jubilee celebrations.