Relive the year's two royal weddings in 24 incredible photos

There's nothing like a royal wedding to lift the world's spirits and remind us all that love is alive and well, and royal watchers were completely spoiled in 2018 to see two fairy-tale romances come to fruition in Windsor. After meeting through friends, Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle had a whirlwind courtship that culminated in their thoroughly modern May 19 nuptials - a stunning merging of their backgrounds with unique touches all along the way. Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, on the other hand, have been together since meeting in Switzerland in 2010, and their Oct. 12 wedding in the very same venue was a show of their commitment to one another - and to giving their family and friends a weekend to remember, complete with a carnival the following day!
Click through to see all the most magical moments from the year's most spectacular weddings...
Photos: © Getty Images

It was a magical moment when the bridesmaids arrived, holding onto the hands of some of the closest women in Prince Harry and Meghan's lives in their Givenchy couture dresses and custom Aquazzura shoes. Duchess Kate kept Princess Charlotte and Florence van Cutsem close while Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney grasped the hand of her daughter, Ivy. Meghan's goddaughters Remi and Rylan stayed close to their mom, Benita Litt, who wore a dusty rose dress. And Prince Harry's goddaughter Zalie, who had a bit of a cry before the wedding, held on to her mummy, hot pink-clad Zoe Warren.
Photo: © Getty Images

This cinematic image was our first glimpse of Meghan Markle as a royal bride, as she rode in a vintage car with her mother Doria Ragland to the wedding at St George's Chapel. While we couldn't see the Givenchy wedding dress yet, we were able to spot Meghan's sparkling topper of choice – Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau tiara.
Photo: © Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

“It was important for me, especially as a part of the Royal Family, to have all 53 of the Commonwealth countries incorporated. And I knew that it would be a fun surprise as well for my now husband, who didn’t know,” Meghan later explained in a documentary of her veil, which was carried by twins John and Brian, sons of Canada's Ben and Jessica Mulroney (one of her best friends). “He was really over the moon to find out that I would make this choice for our day together, and I think the other members of the family had a similar reaction and appreciation for the fact that we understand how important this is for us, and the role that we play, and the work that we’re going to do in the Commonwealth countries.”
Photo: © Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

This awe-inspiring photo was captured when the light in the chapel hit Meghan in just the right spot as she broke tradition and walked partway down the aisle by herself. Her father, Thomas Markle, was not able to make the trip to London after having heart surgery, and the confident former actress made up her own rules as the thoroughly modern bride that she was.
Photo: © DANNY LAWSON/AFP/Getty Images

While Meghan started her walk down the aisle solo, she was then joined by her soon-to-be father-in-law, Prince Charles, for the final leg of her journey. When the duo reached Prince Harry, he was seen saying thanking his dad and exclaiming "wow" over his beautiful bride.
Of asking his dad to do the couple this honour, Harry later revealed the Charles jumped at the idea. “I asked him to and I think he knew it was coming, and he immediately said ‘yes, of course, I’ll do whatever Meghan needs and I’m here to support you.’ For him, that’s a fantastic opportunity to step up and be that support, and you know he’s our father so of course he’s going to be there for us.”
Photo: © Getty Images

Doria Ragland was the most poised mother of the bride as she sat in the pews wearing a stunning yellow Oscar de la Renta ensemble, but she couldn't hold back the tears any more than the rest of us! Later, she walked down the steps of St. George's Chapel on the arm of her new in-laws, Prince Charles and Camilla.
Photo: © Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The world had been waiting for this moment ever since the former Suits star and her prince announced their engagement in November 2017. Standing on the steps of St. George's Chapel surrounded by stunning white and green blooms, Meghan whispered, "Do we kiss?" and Prince Harry responded, "Yeah," before the two locked lips for the first time as husband and wife and the crowds went wild.
Photo: © Getty Images

Meghan's custom Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy boatneck gown definitely left fans breathless, but the most sweeping element was definitely her 16-foot veil, which floated behind her as she and Prince Harry walked down the steps towards their waiting carriage. She had the veil embroidered with flora from all 53 Commonwealth countries, showing her dedication to the Queen and the work she'd be doing as royalty.
Photo: © Getty Images

Bless you! Princess Charlotte captivated the world on the steps of St. George's Chapel in her custom Givenchy dress and floral garland as she covered her mouth to give the world's most adorable sneeze while holding mom Kate's hand.
Photo: © Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Some dubbed this photo "Princess Diana's view" – a reference to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana watching over the wedding. Press Association photographer Yui Mok explained the moment he captured the iconic shot. "I had noticed earlier that there were a couple of portholes covered with metal grilles on the floor where I stood, through which you could see directly to the ground below," he told Town and Country, revealing: "I decided to try for a shot of their carriage passing through. I figured that a shot of them together from an overhead view would be something unique from the other photographer’s angles, something a little bit artistic even."
Photo: © Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

This image of a confident and content Meghan Markle looking directly into the camera during the post-wedding carriage ride got the "*Record scratch* *Freeze frame*" meme treatment on the internet.
Photo: © Gareth Fuller - WPA/Getty Images

The name's Harry, Prince Harry! Doing his best James Bond impression, the dapper groom changed into a black tuxedo with a velvet jacket as his new wife traded her Givenchy gown for a stunning Stella McCartney design to attend their evening reception at Frogmore House. Fans were delighted to see Meghan sporting Princess Diana's aquamarine cocktail ring as the pair sped off in Prince Charles' icy blue Jaguar E-Type Zero electric car.
Photo: © Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images

One of the cutest moments of Princess Eugenie and Jack's big day - a very windy one at that - was when a few of the bridesmaids and pageboys stumbled up the steps to the chapel, corralled by Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex's daughter Lady Louise.
Photo: © Getty Images

Clad in stunning jewel tones, mother-of-the-bride Sarah Ferguson and maid of honour princess Beatrice waved to the crowds as they entered the church. The Duchess of York wore an ensemble created by Windsor's Emma Louise Design and carried the vintage Manolo Blahnik bag that her mother, Susan Barrantes, wore to her wedding in 1986. Her daughter was a vision in Ralph & Russo with an oversized headband by Sarah Cant.
Photo: © Getty Images

Sarah couldn't help but hug an elderly fan before running into the church for her daughter's big day!
Photo: © Getty Images

First look at the stunning bride! Princess Eugenie arrived at St. George's Chapel on the morning of her wedding, giving fans a first glimpse of her gorgeous, emerald-studded tiara and the beautiful folded neckline on her gown. She rode in the Queen's 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI, the same car that Duchess Kate took to Westminster Abbey on her big day in 2011.
Photo: © Getty Images

Doting dad Prince Andrew helped to fix his youngest daughter's skirt as they made their way into the chapel, his last fatherly gesture before his little girl became a wife. Princess Eugenie opted to wear a gown with an open back to show the scar from surgery she had to correct her scoliosis when she was 12. For this reason, she also went without a veil.
Photo: © Getty Images

After a boisterous Trooping the Colour in June and trip to the polo match over the summer, Prince George and his cousin Savannah Phillips reunited on the aisle at Princess Eugenie's wedding - where the duo's antics picked up where they left off. The bride and groom had their bridal party clad in Amaia Kids embellished with belts taken from the Mark Bradford artwork included in the Order of Service.
Photo: © Getty Images

Princess Eugenie stole a glance at her husband-to-be, Jack Brooksbank, who was visibly emotional throughout the ceremony. She looked breathtaking in her custom Peter Pilotto gown and the Queen's Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara.
Photo: © Getty Images

The Cambridges and the Sussexes sat together during Princess Eugenie and Jack's ceremony, where Duchess Kate placed a rare hand on her husband's thigh in a sweet public display of affection.
Photo: © Getty Images

Sealed with a kiss! Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank stood on the same steps as Prince Harry and Meghan, just five months before them, to share their first smooch as husband and wife.
Photo: © Getty Images

The newlyweds were bursting with delight as they rode through Windsor in the Scottish State Coach following their nuptials. They chose this particular carriage because, though it's closed, it features huge windows - including on the ceiling - to offer fans everywhere a view of the pair.
Photo: © Getty Images

The couple cruised to their reception in an Aston Martin DB10, a UK-designed and engineered car made for the James Bond film Spectre. But first, they had to get Princess Eugenie's spectacular and full-skirted Peter Pilotto gown into the car - a task that necessitated the help of maid of honour Princess Beatrice!
Photo: © Getty Images

Fans got a glimpse of the couple's gorgeous evening reception looks in one of four official portraits released to mark their big day. Jack went for a classic black tuxedo at the Royal Lodge 'do while his new wife chose a blush design by Zac Posen featuring shoulders embellished with white roses of York and buttons down the open back.
Photo: © Alex Bramall