The top royal events of 2019, as picked by Hello! Canada readers

December 31, 2019

What a year it's been! We've gone another 365 days around the Sun and with it, the <a href=/tags/0/british-royals><strong>Royal Family</strong></a> has seen plenty of change and growth.
<p>You might remember that earlier this year, we asked you to participate in our 2019/2020 reader survey. If you completed it, thanks! We appreciate you taking the time to fill it out. Those who did the survey may remember that at the end, it contained several questions about royal-related topics. In them, we asked readers to pick their most memorable royal events of 2019.
<p>So with no further ado... we'd like to show you the top 10!
<strong>Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see what you chose as the most memorable royal events of 2019!</strong>
<p>(If you're curious about further results from our reader survey, come back to the site on Jan. 9, when we'll reveal some more just in time for <a href=/tags/0/kate-middleton><strong>Duchess Kate</a></strong>'s 38th birthday!)
<p>Photos: © Getty Images

What a year it's been! We've gone another 365 days around the Sun and with it, the Royal Family has seen plenty of change and growth.

You might remember that earlier this year, we asked you to participate in our 2019/2020 reader survey. If you completed it, thanks! We appreciate you taking the time to fill it out. Those who did the survey may remember that at the end, it contained several questions about royal-related topics. In them, we asked readers to pick their most memorable royal events of 2019.

So with no further ado... we'd like to show you the top 10!
Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see what you chose as the most memorable royal events of 2019!

(If you're curious about further results from our reader survey, come back to the site on Jan. 9, when we'll reveal some more just in time for Duchess Kate's 38th birthday!)

Photos: © Getty Images

No. 10: Archie's christening

Two months after he was born, Archie was christened in a beautiful, private ceremony in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle.

We also got our first good look at the adorable little boy, who wore a replica of the Honiton christening gown, thanks to two gorgeous photos released by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. The first, pictured left, shows the loving couple holding their baby boy in the Rose Garden on the Castle grounds. The second is a family portrait that was taken in the Green Room at the Castle, featuring the Sussexes with Archie. They are joined by Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William, Duchess Kate and Doria Ragland, Meghan's mother.

Fewer than 25 people were on hand for Archie's big moment. In addition to those mentioned, Archie's godparents were also in attendance. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously said they would keep the godparents' names private. The Queen was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

Photo: © Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal

No. 9: The 22nd anniversary of Princess Diana's death

More than two decades after her passing, the People's Princess remains strongly in our hearts.

Diana passed away on Aug. 31, 1997 after being involved in a car crash in Paris, France. Dodi Fayed, her boyfriend at the time, also died. The event had a massive impact on the Royal Family, especially on Prince William and Prince Harry, who were just 15 and 12 years old at the time.

This year, we learned about how her sons work to ensure she's still a part of their lives. Every year, the dukes of Cambridge and Sussex honour their mother on the anniversary of her death. Duchess Meghan and Harry have also reportedly placed a photo of Archie's late grandmother in his nursery to ensure she is part of his life from an early age. William and Duchess Kate also work to make sure their children know about their late grandmother and "what an amazing woman she was," a source said this year.

May Princess Diana rest in peace.

Photo: © Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

No. 8: Prince Louis's first birthday

The youngest Prince of Cambridge turned one year old this year, and to celebrate, his mom and dad released three gorgeous portraits!

The photos of Prince Louis were taken by Duchess Kate at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's country home of Anmer Hall in Norfolk while they were on an extended Easter holiday with Louis and his big brother Prince George and big sister Princess Charlotte. They show the little prince wearing two different sweaters, smiling at the camera in two and looking at it quizzically while showing off some new teeth in the third!

This wasn't the first time Kate had taken photos of her children. She was also responsible for Louis's first official portraits, which came out two weeks after he was born. She was also behind the camera for Charlotte's first birthday portraits in 2016 and also took pictures of George's first day at nursery school.

Photo: © The Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace

No. 7: Meghan and Harry's tour of Southern Africa

September saw Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan jet off to South Africa for a 10-day tour of that country, Angola, Botswana and Malawi.

The Sussexes spent several days in Cape Town on the first leg, including a lovely moment where they brought little Archie to meet South African national hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The adorable boy was pictured giggling throughout their visit with the anti-apartheid figurehead, laughing happily on mom Meghan's lap.

From there, Harry headed separately to Botswana, Angola and Malawi, where he worked on conservation projects, visited the site of his mother's famous walk through a minefield, and helped promote the education of women and girls.

Harry and Meghan then reunited in Johannesburg on Oct. 2, and capped their visit off by making trips to see Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela's widow, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa before heading back home.

Meghan made plenty of surprise appearances during the tour, as well, including visiting the site of South African student Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder in Cape Town, where she left a moving tribute.

Photo: © Getty Images

No. 6: Princess Charlotte's first day of school

On Sept. 5, Princess Charlotte marked a major milestone when she went to school for the first time! The Princess of Cambridge was pictured arriving at Thomas's Battersea with her big brother, Prince George and mom and dad, Duchess Kate and Prince William.

The four-year-old was a bit shy at first, hiding behind her mom as they met Helen Haslem, the head of the lower school. She was wearing Thomas's uniform of a skirt, red and blue cardigan and blouse underneath and dress shoes and held her mom's hand most of the time.

It was fantastic to see the Duchess of Cambridge at the event with both of her children. Kate had a huge smile on her face as her little girl was introduced to Helen and looked incredibly proud of her two children. The duchess was not able to drop George off for his first day at Thomas's in 2017 because she was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, while she was pregnant with Prince Louis.

Before heading to the school, a sweet portrait of Charlotte and George was taken, in which she can be seen smiling excitedly while her supportive big brother stands proudly just behind her.

<h2>No. 5: Royal Ascot</h2>
<p>Always a treat each year, <strong><a href=/tags/0/royal-ascot>Royal Ascot</a></strong> was even more so in 2019 since it featured <a href=https://ca.hellomagazine.com/fashion/02019061851926/royal-ascot-2019-all-the-best-photos/><strong>a special appearance</a></strong> from the Netherlands' <Strong><a href=/tags/0/queen-maxima>Queen Máxima</strong></a>! The Dutch royal was in the UK with her husband, <strong><a href=/tags/0/king-willem-alexander>King Willem-Alexander</a></strong>, who had been made a Supernumerary Knight of the Order of the Garter the day before, along with <strong><a href=/tags/0/king-felipe-vi>King Felipe VI</a></strong> of Spain.
<p>As usual, there were plenty of lovely style moments throughout the racing extravaganza, including <strong><a href=/tags/0/kate-middleton>Duchess Kate</a></strong> in a gorgeous baby blue <Strong><a href=/tags/0/elie-saab>Elie Saab</a></strong> ensemble and as usual, hats, hats, hats!
<p><strong><a href=/tags/0/queen-elizabeth-ii>The Queen</a></strong> was there every day, and looked in her element every time we saw her.
<p>Photos: © Getty Images

<h2>No. 4: Archie Harrison's birth</h2>
<p>The event we'd all been waiting for since it was announced in October 2018 that <strong><a href=/tags/0/meghan-markle>Duchess Meghan</a></strong> was pregnant arrived on May 6, when little <strong><a href=/tags/0/archie-harrison>Archie</a></strong> finally arrived!
<P>Proud parents Meghan and <Strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-harry>Prince Harry</a></strong> debuted him two days later at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, showing off their adorable sleeping little boy proudly for the cameras.
<p>Over the next few months, we got plenty of opportunities to see Archie, from his aforementioned christening and royal tour appearance to the Sussex family's adorable <a href=https://ca.hellomagazine.com/royalty/02019122354184/archie-harrison-prince-harry-meghan-markle-christmas-card/><strong>Christmas card</a></strong>.
<p>Photo: © Dominic Lipinski/AFP via Getty Images

<h2>No. 3: Trooping the Colour</h2>
<p>Not only did <Strong><a href=/tags/0/queen-elizabeth-ii>the Queen</a></strong> celebrate her official 93rd birthday celebration in massive style again this year, but <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-louis>Prince Louis</a></strong> made his debut on Buckingham Palace's balcony!
<p>Royal watchers were overjoyed as the one-year-old showed off his very best royal wave, prompting mom <Strong><a href=/tags/0/kate-middleton>Duchess Kate</a></strong> and dad <Strong><A href=/tags/0/prince-william>Prince William</a></strong> to burst into a fit of giggles.
<p><strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-george>Prince George</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/princess-charlotte>Princess Charlotte</a></strong> also looked like they had great fun on the balcony, waving at well-wishers outside and also being completely wowed by planes flying overhead.
<p>This was one of our first opportunities this year to see the Cambridge family all together, and it certainly was lovely!
<p>Photo: © Samir Hussein/WireImage

No. 2: Duchess Kate and Prince William's royal tour of Pakistan

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's trip to Pakistan was only four days, but it certainly was memorable!

Duchess Kate wowed royal watchers with her incredible wardrobe from the second she got off the plane. She paid tribute to the country's incredible cultures by sporting several shalwar kameezes during the tour, along with a gorgeous Jenny Packham glittering emerald green gown. Prince William also had a style moment of his own when he wore a teal sherwani to an engagement and looked as incredible as the duchess!

The couple travelled all over the country during their time there, highlighting issues related to education, the environment and even got the chance to reconnect with Princess Diana and the time she spent there when they visited Chitral.

We hadn't seen the couple on tour together since they visited Sweden and Norway in 2018, and we hope to see them on the road as a duo again very soon!

No. 1: The Queen's 93rd birthday

Ninety-three years young! Your choice for the most memorable royal event of the year was the Queen's birthday! Indeed, some would argue Her Majesty's birthday makes the list twice this year, since Trooping the Colour is its official celebration.

This year, Her Majesty marked April 21 by heading to Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle. She looked lovely and very happy in a sky blue overcoat, pink shirt and matching hat with pink floral detailing.

She was greeted by the entire family at the service, which is important to her each year due to her strong Christian faith (she's also the head of the Church of England, don't forget!). Her family members curtseyed to her, as is traditional, wished her a happy birthday and a happy Easter, and she headed inside. Afterward, she was presented with two bouquets of fresh spring flowers by some adorable children.

Her Majesty will turn 94 in 2020 and is still incredibly active. She attended nearly 300 engagements this year, and we can't wait to see what she will do over the next!