The Royal Year 2016: Top Ten Moments

2016 has come and gone in what seems to be the blink of an eye! Before we welcome 2017 this weekend, let’s take a quick look at our picks for the top 10 moments of the royal 2016…

10. Beatrice Borromeo steals the show at the 2016 Rose Ball

The newest member of the Grimaldi-Casiraghi family, Beatrice Borromeo – wife of Pierre Casiraghi – was the stand-out at this year’s Bal de la Rose at the Sporting Club de Monaco. She was unable to be missed in a red Giambattista Valli ball gown with a voluminous tulle skirt, paired with emerald and diamond jewels.

9. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden’s 70th birthday gala

Sweden’s King can be counted on to bring together a large gathering of royalty to celebrate his milestones. His 70th birthday celebrations in April culminated in a tiara dinner.

Official photograph of the celebrations of King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday. pic.twitter.com/cWqVx5g2D8

— Scandinavian Royals. (@crownprincely) April 30, 2016

8. Sweden’s infant princes get christened

Two new princes graced the Swedish Royal Family’s membership this year – Prince Oscar in March and Prince Alexander in April. They were each christened a few months after their births, wearing the heirloom lace christening gown worn by all royal babies before them.

7. The Cambridge Family tours Canada

Embarking on their second royal tour of the year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed to Canada in September, taking their two children – Prince George and Princess Charlotte – with them.

6. Prince Leka of Albania marries Elia Zaharia

Albania had its first royal wedding in almost eighty years took place in October, when Prince Leka married his long-time girlfriend, actress Elia Zaharia, at the Royal Palace in Tirana.

5. Emperor Akihito of Japan indicates desire to abdicate

During a television speech in August, Japanese Emperor Akihito spoke of his wish to abdicate the throne, due to his increasing age and the “impossibility to continue reducing the acts he performs in matters of state and in his duties as the symbol of the State”. The matter is currently being discussed by a special advisory panel set up by the Government to determine the feasibility of such an action, the first Japanese abdication in 200 years.

4. A Dutch-Belgian State Visit brings all the glitz

The King and Queen of the Belgians paid one of the numerous state visits this year to neighbouring The Netherlands, which meant one thing: tiaras a plenty! Queen Mathilde was the winner of the evening, donning the full version of the Nine Provinces Tiara.

3. Birth of Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan

February saw much reason to celebrate in Bhutan, as Queen Jetsun Pema gave birth to her first child – a son named Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. The infant prince with his jet-black hair and cherubic looks quickly captivated royal watchers around the world.

2. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom’s 90th birthday portrait

To mark her milestone ninetieth birthday in April, Queen Elizabeth II posed for a photograph with her seven youngest descendants: grandchildren Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and Viscount Severn; and great-children Savannah and Isla Phillips, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Mia Tindall (who definitely stole the show by clutching Her Majesty’s trademark handbag!).

The story behind why Mia Tindall was holding Queen Elizabeth's purse in this adorable pic https://t.co/6ktRAYWgiv pic.twitter.com/HJ5z0JvWCL

— HELLO! US (@hellomagUS) May 20, 2016

1. Death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

The world’s longest reigning monarch, King Rama IX of Thailand, passed away on October 13 at the age of 88. Bhumibol Adulyadej took the throne in 1946 and was revered by the Thai people. His son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, has succeeded him as King.

Filed under Albania, Belgium, Bhutan, Japan, Monaco, Sweden, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom
Tagged Beatrice Borromeo, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Emperor Akihito of Japan, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Prince Alexander of Sweden, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Jigme Namgyel of Bhutan, Prince Leka of Albania, Prince Oscar of Sweden, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Princess Elia of Albania, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge.

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