Everyone has a different way of celebrating Christmas and New Year – some like partying, while others prefer to stay at home with their families. However, there is one thing we can all be certain of: regardless of what we do, it is going to be the best Christmas and New Year we’ve ever had!
It was just over a year ago that we were blessed with the birth of a baby prince. Since then, the world has been transformed by the charm of Princess Eugenie and her adorable brother, King George.
The year 2019 was a landmark one for the royal family. Not only did they celebrate their 100th birthday, but they also made numerous social media appearances – including a rather memorable duet with Justin Bieber.
While we’re deeply thankful to King George and Queen Elizabeth for gifting us with Princess Eugenie, it’s been a tough past year, both for the royal family and for her as a single mum. We can only imagine how much pressure she must be under to raise her children as royal citizens, adhere to the traditions of the British monarchy, and ensure that the next generation of royal heirs grows up as proudly Canadian as possible.
And what a job she has. Despite the challenges she’s faced, Princess Eugenie maintains a lovely, kind, and giving spirit. We can only hope that her son, King George, maintains this same goodness as he grows up and assumes the throne.
But if 2019 was a tough year for the royal family, it was also a transformative one for their fans. We saw them grow as people, mature as parents, and become more accessible to the general public. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most memorable events from the past year.
The King And Queen’s Canada Day Lunch
On Canada Day, July 1st, in a joint appearance with Sophie, the Duchess of Cambridge, the King and Queen made a remarkable statement about Canada and its place in their hearts. The couple spoke about their love for Canada and its people and encouraged Canadians to continue being proud of their country. They also paid glowing tributes to the late Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, noting his passion for Canadian-British relations and contribution to the ‘special relationship.’
This was certainly one of the highlights of the year for Canadian fans. The first-time parents amazed us all with their unselfishness – the very definition of a real royal pair!
The Throne Speech
Following the historic UK general election in June, which resulted in a hung parliament, the new prime minister was tasked with formulating a government. As Canada is not a member of the European Union, the Queen was unable to participate in the televised debates over Brexit. However, this did not keep her from being relevant. As the UK was going through another political upheaval, the Queen kept us abreast of events through her annual Christmas and New Year’s speeches. In these speeches, she touches on the major issues facing the country and gives her opinion on how she hopes the situation will be resolved.
In her first speech, delivered in December 2018, the Queen voiced her support for the “principled and pragmatic” Boris Johnson, praising his “genuine interest in Canada” as well as his “strong record of public service.”
While we wait with baited breath for the Brexit saga to conclude (no date has been set for an extension to the negotiating period yet), we can take heart that at least the Queen has been keeping busy. In her 2019 speech, delivered in January, she spoke of her “great pleasure” at welcoming US President Donald Trump to Canada, noting, “There are so many ways in which our countries can and should work together.”
The Invitation To The Throne
Another event that received a lot of media attention was the annual ‘invitation to the throne’ ceremony. The Queen’s invitation to the throne is a longstanding tradition in which eligible bachelors and bachelorette candidates are invited to court, inviting them to compete for the hand in marriage of Her Majesty. This year saw the 86th annual rite of passage, and it was once again broadcast live on YouTube.
Perhaps the most notable feature of this year’s ceremony was the large number of eligible bachelors and bachelorette candidates. Over 80 individuals applied for the 86 spots available, with over 40 women applying for the 16 available bachelorette spots. In addition, there were 15 separate haversacks distributed, containing a combination of chocolate, cheese, crackers, and other snacks, as well as a single rose. Finally, the couple were married in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in April, just a couple of months after their first courtship anniversary.
The Wedding Of Prince Harry And Ms. Meghan Markle
The big day! After a very public courtship and an engagement that lasted over a year, Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, in an elaborate wedding ceremony that drew worldwide attention. The couple celebrated a private ceremony in London following the French ceremony in a small but intimate gathering attended by family and close friends. The reception, which was held at the British Embassy in London, was broadcast live on social media. It seems that the media spotlight will always be trained on the royal family, as the year 2020 was no exception, with countless stories and pictures published about the newlyweds.
A Very Special Year
Finally, let’s not forget about the many milestones that this year has seen for Princess Eugenia and her family. In March, she celebrated the first anniversary of her son’s accession to the throne as King George. In May, she welcomed her first grandchild, a daughter, Alia. Later in the year, she and her spouse welcomed their second child, a son, who was born in London in July. This year was truly a remarkable one for the couple, and we can only imagine what the coming years have in store for them.
Despite the pandemic, the future of the royal family looks incredibly bright. The Queen has shown once again that, although we may lose sight of them from time to time, the royal family remains one of the most influential and loved families in the world.