The year of 2022 will go down in history for many reasons, and it's certainly marked the biggest change for the Royal Family in over 70 years. During the summer, the nation celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee with lemon trifle and laughter over Prince Louis' iconic expressions.
As the Queen became frail, changes were made to the State Opening of Parliament and in September, Her Majesty was laid to rest after passing away at the age of 96. The late monarch's funeral was watched by 28 million people and emotional moments touched the hearts of Britain as a new King was crowned.
Now we head into 2023 having watched and King Charles III's first speech on Christmas Day. It will be a monumental start to the year with a new Queen Consort, changes to British coins and Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'.
70 years on the throne
The royal's rollercoaster year started with the late Queen reaching the incredible milestone of 70 years as monarch.
It was on February 6, 1952, that her father George VI died and she automatically became Queen and she spent the 70th anniversary of her accession privately at Sandringham.
However, she did issue a message, where she renewed her vow made when she was just 21 to devote her life to service.
She said: "As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service.
"As I look ahead with a sense of hope and optimism to the year of my Platinum Jubilee, I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for.
"These last seven decades have seen extraordinary progress socially, technologically and culturally that have benefitted us all; and I am confident that the future will offer similar opportunities to us and especially to the younger generations in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth."
Queen Consort Camilla
The statement released to mark her accession day also hit the headlines after the late Queen declared her wish for Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, to be known as Queen Consort when Charles became King.
It had been thought that upon Charles' accession, his wife Camilla would be known as the Princess Consort - and this was announced on their wedding day in 2005.
But the Queen added in her unprecedented statement: "When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."
State Opening of Parliament
As the months went on and the Queen became increasingly frail, changes had to be made to her duties.
And one of the biggest came when she pulled out the State Opening of Parliament - leaving son Charles, then Prince of Wales - to carry out the duty for her.
On arrival at the House of Parliament, Charles could be seen emerging from his car wearing his Admiral of the Fleet uniform, medals and honour insignia, while Camilla looked elegant in a navy coat dress and matching hat.
Prince William joined them with him and his father jointly opening Parliament on the Queen's behalf as Counsellors of State.
Charles sat not on the sovereign's throne, which had been removed, but on the consort's throne, which used to be occupied by his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, and which Charles has used in recent years.
A space remained next to him, where the missing throne is usually located, under the opulent canopy, with the monarch's Imperial State Crown in front on a velvet cushion
Platinum Jubilee weekend
However, one huge event the late Queen rallied for was her unforgettable Platinum Jubilee weekend in early June to celebrate her 70 year reign.
The bumper four-day bank holiday began on the Thursday with the return of Trooping the Colour to London for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
As well as the usual carriage processions and military parade, the Queen stood with her family on the Buckingham Palace balcony as they watched a majestic RAF flypast.
But it wasn't the monarch who was the star of the show, it was her four-year-old great-grandson Prince Louis, who delighted fans with his hilarious faces.
The second-day of celebrations kicked off with a service at St Paul's Cathedral and the one and only public appearance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - however, the Queen was unable to attend.
Meanwhile, the next day saw a huge concert performed outside Buckingham Palace with acts taking part including Queen, Alicia Keys and Diana Ross.
However, the night will always be remembered for the Queen's sketch with Paddington Bear, where she finally revealed what she kept in her handbag - marmalade sandwiches.
The unforgettable weekend came to a conclusion with a colourful pageant before yet another balcony appearance - in what turned out to be the Queen's last.
For it she was joined by her direct heirs Charles, William and Prince George, as well as Camilla, Kate, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Queen's final duty
On September 6, the Queen hosted a historic audience with new Prime Minister Liz Truss in the informal surroundings of her Scottish home of Balmoral.
While the Queen was said to have ongoing mobility issues, she looked bright yet frail as she used a walking stick to greet the leader of the Conservative party.
Photographs showed the pair in the green drawing room for the Monarch's tradition of 'kissing the hands' to welcome the 15th leader of her reign.
It was the first time Her Majesty had conducted the appointment in Scotland instead of in London at Buckingham Palace.
The pair chatted for around 30 minutes before the Queen was visited by the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tendered his resignation.
In true fashion, the Queen, who was wearing a cardigan and a skirt of Balmoral tartan, didn't let go of her black patent handbag.
Queen's death
At 3.10pm on September 8, Queen Elizabeth II peacefully passed away at the age of 96 in her beloved Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, surrounded by her family.
The Queen's two oldest children - Charles and Anne - were at her bedside in her final moments and were lucky enough to say goodbye. Other senior members of the family, including Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and Prince William, rushed to Scotland when her conditioned worsened however they didn't arrive in time.
Buckingham Palace made the announcement at 6.30pm, stating: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
The Queen's cause of death was later confirmed as old age on her death certificate, with no other contributing factors.
New King
Prince Charles officially became King Charles III the moment his mother passed away, with September 8 officially his Accession Day. While coming to terms with losing his mother, Charles had to start a number of official proceedings as Monarch.
The following day he address the nation with an emotional message, in which he paid tribute to his late mum and appointed Kate and William the Prince and Princess of Wales. He also sent his love to his second born, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle.
He said: "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."
Queen's funeral
The Queen's funeral was held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, where around 2,000 mourners - including world leaders, royals and NHS staff - gathered to pay their respects to the late Monarch.
The Queen's coffin was marched by gun carriage from Westminster and past Buckingham Palace before departing London on her last journey.
A tearful King Charles and other royals including young Prince George and Princess Charlotte paid their respects in a smaller ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II was then laid to rest in the Royal Vault beside her late husband Philip.
The day was marked as a national holiday and the funeral service was aired on more than 50 UK channels, allowing 28 million people to tune in and mourn the Queen's passing.
Emotional moments that will always be remembered include the Queen's corgis saying their final goodbyes, the Queen's piper's last lament at Windsor and King Charles tearing up at 'God Save the King'.
Harry and Meghan's Netflix show
More than two years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a $112m deal with Netflix, their highly-anticipated docuseries about life in the royal family and beyond finally dropped.
Across six explosive episodes of 'Harry & Meghan' the couple revealed unseen photos, confessions and a behind-the-scenes look at their private lives.
Among the shock bombshells were claims Harry was left "terrified" when William "screamed and shouted" at him during a meeting about Megxit.
In another scene, Harry accused royal insiders of "lying" to protect his brother in the trailer of the show.
The Duke of Sussex said: "They were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to protect the truth to protect us."
Meghan said she "tried so hard" but that it "still wasn't good enough" as she described stepping back as a working royal.
Near the end of the final episode of the documentary, Meghan added: "A part of what's beautiful here is the freedom to have family moments out in the world.
"And I want our kids to be able to do that and to be able to travel and to fall in love. I just want them to be happy."
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace declined to comment on the documentary with the royals carrying on with business as usual.
Christmas
In what was likely an emotional festive period for the family, the royals made their annual trip to their Norforlk estate, Sandringham, for the Christmas period.
King Charles led his family to the traditional Christmas Day church service, chatting with well-wishers on their way in and out of the religious building.
While he's led the family in previous years when the Queen wasn't well enough to attend, this was the first time he did it as Monarch.
And the royals were out in force as they came together to navigate their way through the emotional festivities.
The King and Queen, the Wales family, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands, the Tindalls, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex and their children were among those to attend.
Prince Louis made his Christmas debut, looking adorable in little shorts as he held hand with his proud parents. Beatrice's step-son Wolfie also attended for the first time after joining the family at the Jubilee celebrations.
Later in the day, Charles made his first King's Speech, in which he paid tribute to the Queen and spoke about the Cost of Living Crisis.
Earlier in the month Princess Kate hosted a carol concert at Westminster Abbey, which she dedicated to her husband's late grandmother.
What royal moment will you always remember from this year? Let us know in the comments.
FAQs
What will Kate Middletons title be when the Queen dies? ›
Read more. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Willam and Kate. William and Kate's titles were updated to Prince and Princess of Wales, a title historically held by those first in line. In fact, this title was officially granted to Prince Charles at his investiture 50 years ago, and he's the 21st man to hold the title.
What will William and Kate's title be when Charles becomes king? ›King Charles declared his son Prince William to be the Prince of Wales, the traditional title held by the heir, just one day after he became monarch. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. Prince William and Kate Middleton's titles as the Prince and Princess of Wales are now official.
What will Camilla's title be when Charles is king? ›He's not the only royal to get a new title, though—Camilla Parker Bowles, King Charles's wife of 17 years, also has a new title: queen consort. In fact, she will officially be crowned queen consort during King Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
What will Kate Middleton be called now? ›Unlike the title of Princess, Duchess is never used before a first name (i.e., "Duchess Catherine"). Instead, the correct usage is Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
Who will inherit Queen Elizabeth jewelry? ›“The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the Queen's jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate.
Why was Diana a Princess but Kate is not? ›Prince Charles is the son of Queen Elizabeth II, who is the Queen of England, as a result, Diana was given the title of Princess of Wales. This title was not given to Kate due to the fact that she is not married to Charles, Prince of Wales.
Will Kate Middleton be called queen? ›This is a loaded question, but the straightforward answer is yes. Princess Catherine will eventually become queen when Prince William is named king. However, that won't happen until his dad, King Charles, steps down as monarch (or passes away).
Will Prince Harry get a new title when Charles becomes king? ›As King Charles III's second-born son, Prince Harry and Meghan are unlikely to have their titles changed, likely remaining the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Will Kate become queen if William dies? ›The title was previously held by the Queen's mother when King George VI was ruling. So when William becomes King, it is likely that his wife will be known as Queen Consort or Queen Catherine. If William is to die before Kate and their eldest son Prince George becomes king, Kate will then become the Queen Mother.
Will Camilla's children get royal titles? ›Will Queen Camilla's children get royal titles? No, although Camilla is royal by marriage, her children will not receive royal titles.
What happens if Camilla outlives Charles? ›
If Camilla outlives Charles after Charles becomes King, Camilla will remain Princess Camilla unless William decides otherwise. When William becomes King, he can decide if he wants to bestow the title of Queen Mother on his stepmom, Camilla.
Why Camilla will not be called queen? ›Will Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall become Queen? The Duchess of Cornwall, who has been married to King Charles since 2005, has not become Queen because the throne can only be inherited and cannot be taken by members who married into the royal family.
What do Prince George call Camilla? ›It was revealed that the Queen Consort is known as “Gaga” - a nickname that she's reportedly also called by Prince George, Charlotte and Louis.
What will Kate Middleton be called when William is king? ›William has ostensibly been training to become King for his entire life, but what will Kate's role be once William ascends to the throne? As the wife of a reigning monarch, she will become what's known as the Queen consort.
Is Kate a Princess now? ›Kate Middleton only became Princess Kate a few months ago, but she's already adding yet another royal title to her collection. King Charles named his daughter-in-law as the new honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, a title previously held by her husband, Prince William.
What jewelry did Kate inherit from Diana? ›Perhaps the most famous piece of jewelry Kate inherited from Princess Diana is this sapphire engagement ring. The ring was created by British jeweler Garrard and chosen by Prince Charles for his proposal to Diana in 1981.
Will Meghan Markle inherit any of the Queen's jewelry? ›So what will Meghan Markle inherit from Queen Elizabeth? Radar Online reported in September 2022 that both Meghan and Lilibet will be left out of the Queen's inheritance. “There's a very good chance the Queen won't leave either of them any jewels of value,” a source said.
What dress will the Queen be buried in? ›The Queen will be laid to rest today wearing only two precious pieces of jewellery. Her Majesty, who will be buried next to her husband Prince Philip later today, will wear only her wedding band and a pair of pearl earrings, despite owning a collection worth millions of pounds.
Did Kate Middleton ever meet Princess Diana? ›Impeccable taste seems to be a royal family trait. Though they never met, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, have more in common than simply marrying into the Windsor family. Like her late mother-in-law before her, Kate has influential taste, setting the tone for stately dressing worldwide.
Does Princess Diana belong to royal family? ›During her marriage the Princess undertook a wide range of royal duties. Family was very important to the Princess, who had two sons: Prince William and Prince Henry (Harry). After her divorce from The Prince of Wales, the Princess continued to be regarded as a member of the Royal Family.
Did Princess Diana lose her title as Princess? ›
Princess Diana lost her title, true, but she also lost a lot more when she split from Prince Charles—physically and emotionally. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Princess Diana certainly benefitted from her marriage to Prince Charles.
Is Kate Middleton getting a new title? ›Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, received a new title from King Charles III, and it's one that previously belonged to her husband, Prince William. Charles named his daughter-in-law the new honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, which is particularly fitting as Kate has been honoring this guard's regiment on St.
Does Kate have ladies in Waiting? ›In Britain, ladies-in-waiting are titled noblewomen who serve not only the queen, but also high-ranking women in the royal household. Kate Middleton has one, while the queen's sister Princess Margaret had many.
What does William and Kate call the Queen? ›On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am,' pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'. For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir'.
Will Lilibet and Archie get titles? ›Under rules set out by George V in 1917, the grandchildren of the monarch automatically receive royal titles. As grandchildren of King Charles III, Archie and Lilibet now have the right to be prince and princess, whereas they did not immediately qualify as the great-grandchildren of the Queen.
Are Meghan and Harry's children getting titles? ›Prince Harry and Meghan's children Archie and Lilibet now a prince and princess, as a number of royal titles change. London — Archie and Lilibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have become a prince and princess after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Do Meghan and Harry have royal titles? ›Other royals were said to be "hurt" by their decision. Harry remained a Prince, and the couple kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, but are no longer addressed as His/Her Royal Highness (HRH).
Would Diana have been called queen? ›Would Princess Diana be queen if still alive? If Princess Diana were alive today, she — like Sarah Ferguson — could still hold her royal title. However, if she remarried, she would have lost her title and likely gone back to being Lady Diana.
How much did Meghan and Harry inherit from the Queen? ›Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother. It's unclear if Harry was left any money from his grandmother the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose will is expected to stay sealed for at least 90 years.
What do the royal grandkids call Camilla? ›It was revealed that the Queen Consort is known as “Gaga” - a nickname that she's reportedly also called by Prince George, Charlotte and Louis.
Does Camilla have royal blood? ›
But did you know that Camilla actually has royal blood herself? Her royal ancestry is distant, but there's a definite linkage that's worth mentioning. The Earl of Albermarle, Camilla's 2x great-grandfather. The link comes from Camilla's 2x maternal great-grandfather Lieutenant Colonel William Coutts Keppel, born 1832.
What is Harry's title now? ›While they are no longer working members of the royal family, Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle still hold the royal titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which were bestowed upon them when they married in 2018.
Will Camilla walk behind King Charles? ›The Queen Consort must walk behind King Charles
As a sign of respect, the Queen Consort must always walk behind her husband King Charles. In the first days of his reign, Charles was spotted walking outside of Buckingham Palace with Camilla just a few steps behind.
The expert did point out there was one way in which Prince Charles could take over while Her Majesty is still alive. He said: "The Queen will be the Queen until the day she dies in my opinion. Of course she will. "I think it is whether or not they recognise him as a regent.
Why was Charles not allowed with Camilla? ›Though it seems almost comically old fashioned now, the fact that Camilla had a dating history was a major strike against her. "The conventions of the time called for the heir to the British throne to marry a woman who at least appeared to be virginal," writes Bedell Smith.
Can Camilla be queen if Charles dies? ›The line of succession follows Charles' blood descendants, so Camilla will never become the actual queen, even if he dies before her.
What does Prince George call queen? ›What Prince George called the Queen. Queen Elizabeth II. In an interview in April 2016 to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate Middleton revealed a sweet detail about her eldest son's relationship with his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. "George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her Gan-Gan," Kate said.
Does Camilla have to curtsy to Kate? ›Not only is the line of succession different, but royal titles are also being switched up. And now, even the etiquette rules are being adapted. One of the major changes applies to Camilla Parker Bowles, who, as a newly-deemed Queen consort, no longer has to curtsey to other members of the royal family.
What do William and Harry call the Queen? ›Prince Harry and Prince William call the Queen "Granny" and Prince George calls her "Gan Gan". Even Meghan Markle has a nickname for the monarch, calling her Mama. See, they're just like us...
What does Prince George call William and Kate? ›During a royal engagement, Kate revealed that George doesn't call William 'dad. ' He actually prefers the very endearing 'pops'.
What will Princess Charlotte be called when William is King? ›
The King's decision means Charlotte may instead be given the title Princess Royal. This is traditionally given to the eldest daughter of the monarch, so wouldn't go to Charlotte until her father Prince William becomes King. Currently, Princess Anne holds the title of Princess Royal, which was given to her in 1987.
What does Kate Middleton's family call her? ›And while William and the family referred to her as Catherine, and the new Duchess signed off on social media with a “C”, they appeared to be the only ones. To the world, she remained known as Kate Middleton, something that did not happen to her mother-in-law Princess Diana.
Is Princess Kate Rich? ›Middleton had a net worth of $10 million before marrying William. However, the vast majority of her money came from Kate's parents' business, as several reports point out. Reports illustrate that Middleton inherited a vast majority of her money.
Will Meghan become a Princess? ›However as Harry will never be the Prince of Wales, Meghan will never have the Princess of Wales title. The next person who will use it will be Prince George's partner, but only once his father takes the throne.
What does consort mean in royalty? ›The role of The Queen's consort is primarily to provide companionship and moral and practical support to the Monarch. The consort does not hold a formal position in the structure of government and The Duke did not see State papers or hold official audiences.
Does Meghan Markle have the HRH title? ›While King Charles III has agreed to anoint 3-year-old Archie and 1-year-old Lilibet, neither child will be given the HRH titles. The HRH titles were taken away from both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2020 after they decided to shed their "royal duties" and move to America.
Can the Queen skip Charles and make William king? ›Even if the Queen had desired to skip Charles in favor of William, she did not have the power to choose her successor on a whim. The 1701 Act of Settlement is the act of Parliament that determines the succession to the throne and requires that a monarch's heir must be his or her direct successor (and a Protestant).
Why is consort not king? ›Male consorts aren't given the title of king
The most likely reason for this is because the title of king could be considered to outrank the title of queen.
The Queen Consort is simply the reigning king's wife, their role is defined by marriage and is more symbolic as they offer the monarch support, unlike the Queen who is officially the UK's ruler.
Who can remove Prince Harry's title? ›If passed by parliament, the resolution would grant the Privy Council the right to demote the royal couple's status.
What are Archie and Lilibet new titles? ›
Prince Harry and Meghan's children Archie and Lilibet now a prince and princess, as a number of royal titles change. London — Archie and Lilibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have become a prince and princess after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Will Prince Harry's child have a title? ›Under rules that are more than a century old, any child or grandchild of the monarch can get royal titles. While Harry's grandmother reigned, the Mountbatten-Windsor children, Archie Harrison, 3, and Lilibet “Lili” Diana, 1, were too far down the line of succession to be automatically entitled to royal titles.
Can Queen Elizabeth choose William to be king? ›Even if the Queen had desired to skip Charles in favor of William, she did not have the power to choose her successor on a whim. The 1701 Act of Settlement is the act of Parliament that determines the succession to the throne and requires that a monarch's heir must be his or her direct successor (and a Protestant).
Can Charles let William be king? ›'Under common law, Prince Charles will automatically become King the moment the Queen dies. Prince William could only become King if Prince Charles chose to abdicate. That would require legislation, as happened with the Declaration of Abdication Act 1936.
Can William become king? ›Prince William is the first in line to throne while his son Prince George is second after Charles became King following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September.
Do Meghan and Harry still have royal titles? ›Other royals were said to be "hurt" by their decision. Harry remained a Prince, and the couple kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, but are no longer addressed as His/Her Royal Highness (HRH).
Are Meghan and Harry still royal? ›After that private meeting concluded, it turned out that “back” really meant “down,” as on January 18, Buckingham Palace released a statement declaring that Harry and Meghan were “no longer working members of the Royal Family.”
Is a Duchess higher than a princess? ›After the royal titles of king, queen, prince, and princess come the five noble ranks: duke and duchess (the members of nobility that rank right below the monarch), marquess and marchioness, earl and countess, viscount and viscountess, and baron and baroness.