The royal family have experienced a rollercoaster year filled with joyful family experiences, major visits by foreign leaders, momentous overseas tours – and one or two ‘bumpy’ moments that saw them plunged into turmoil.
Prince Andrew retired from public life following a catastrophic BBC interview, the Queen welcomed US president Donald Trump in a state visit, Harry and Meghan welcomed their first child Archie and then took aim at the British press – while rumours of an increasing divide between the Sussexes and Cambridges appeared all but confirmed.
Photographs taken during 2019 capture a year of beautiful highs, embarrassing lows and historical moments of modern royal life.
President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, Melania Trump, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, during a group photo ahead of the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, on day one of US President Donald Trump’s three day state visit to the UK
The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, on the fourth day of the royal visit to Pakistan (left). The Duke and Duchess of Sussex viewing a new sculpture in Hamilton Square to mark the 100th anniversary of war poet Wilfred Owen’s death, during a visit to Birkenhead (right)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (left) with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (right) as they attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, London
Duke of York speaking for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis
The Duchess of Cornwall standing between the wings of artist Paul Curtis’ mural entitled For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds, in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.
Baby Archie is kissed on the forehead by Archbishop Desmond Tutu while in the hands of his mother The Duchess of Sussex in cape Town, on day three of their tour of Africa
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meeting Beyonce and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King at the Odeon Leicester Square, London (left). The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meeting Beyonce and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King at the Odeon Leicester Square, London
The Duke of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex arrive to attend the global premiere of Netflix’s ‘Our Planet’ at the Natural History Museum in Kensington, London. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday December 30, 2019
The Duke of Edinburgh, 97, who was left “very shocked” and shaken when the Land Rover Discovery he was driving was hit by a Kia as he drove near the Queen’s Sandringham estate on Thursday afternoon, talking to the Queen while at the wheel of a similar vehicle during the Royal Windsor Horse Show
Figures show the number of the days worked by members of the monarchy during 2019 – with the Princess Royal leading the list.
Details of the monarchy’s official engagements are recorded in the Court Circular – a daily list of the events attended by the Queen and her family.
But it is understood some members of the royal family carry out private engagements in support of their public work, which may not be reflected by the Court Circular.
The Duke of Cambridge worked 74 days during the past 12 months, according to the Court Circular, while his wife the Duchess worked 58 days, but it is likely their respective figures may be higher.
As the parents of three young children – Prince George, aged six, Princess Charlotte, aged four, and Prince Louis who is 20 months old – it is thought they juggle childcare duties around their public work.
The Duke of York leaves his home in Windsor, Berkshire, the day after he suspended his work with his charities, organisations and military units because of the fallout from his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Queen Elizabeth II and US President Donald Trump during commemorations for the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Southsea Common, Portsmouth
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall hold beer steins during a visit to a traditional dance hall and hofbrauhaus (beer hall) in Munich, Germany
The Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte who poked out her tongue whilst looking through a window at the prize giving after the King’s Cup regatta at Cowes on the Isle of Wight
The Duchess of Cambridge and The Duchess of Sussex on day twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon
The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day at Billingbear Polo Club, Wokingham, Berkshire
The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex attend the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, London
The royal family have experienced a busy year full of happy family experiences, major visits by foreign leaders – and ‘bumpy’ moments. Queen Elizabeth II greets US President Donald Trump as he arrives for the Ceremonial Welcome at Buckingham Palace, London, on day one of his three day state visit to the UK
Queen Elizabeth II with trainer Paul Nicholls feeding carrots to racehorse Politologue at the Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset
Duchess of Cornwall receiving a kiss from veteran Arthur Jones during the Royal British Legion’s Service of Remembrance, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, in Bayeux, France, as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing
The Prince of Wales worked 125 days during the past 12 months according to the Court Circular, carrying out a historic visit to Cuba with the Duchess of Cornwall, who worked 84 days, and also touring Commonwealth nations in the South Pacific.
Charles attended royal engagements across the country during the year and just a few days before Christmas visited the village of Fishlake, near Doncaster, to meet communities affected by flooding.
The Queen, now in the 68th year of her reign, worked 67 days during 2019, and she still maintains a busy public schedule as her 94th birthday approaches in April. In 2018 the Queen worked 63 days.
Every day of every year, wherever she is, the Queen receives from government ministers, and from her representatives in the Commonwealth and foreign countries, information in the form of policy papers, Cabinet documents, Foreign Office telegrams, a daily summary of events in Parliament, letters and other state papers.
Queen Elizabeth II smiling during a visit to the headquarters of British Airways at Heathrow Airport, London, to mark their centenary year
the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge make their way along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, in London, ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony, as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her official birthday.
Duke of Sussex receives a gift for his new son, Archie, from Princess Margriet of the Netherlands at a sports training session at Sportcampus Zuiderpark during a visit to The Hague as part of a programme of events to mark the official launch of the Invictus Games, Netherland
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with players of the Boston Red Sox as they attend the Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees baseball game at the London Stadium in support of the Invictus Games Foundation. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday December 30, 2019
Queen Elizabeth II with keeper Maia Gordon as Olive the duck walks alongside them during a visit to Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh (left). Queen Elizabeth II plants a tree during a visit to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) Park Farm in Cambridge (right)
The Duchess of Cambridge pulling a pint with the Duke of Cambridge during their visit to Belfast Empire Hall for an informal party to celebrate inspirational young people who were making a real difference in Northern Ireland as part of their two day visit to Northern Ireland
The Duchess of Cornwall standing between the wings of artist Paul Curtis’ mural entitled For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds, in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in Westminster, London
These are sent up to her by private secretaries in the red boxes also used by Government ministers to carry confidential documents.
The Queen spoke about the ‘bumpy’ path her family has experienced this year in her Christmas Day address to the nation.
During 2019, the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a dramatic car accident, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke about their struggles living in the public eye and the Duke of York gave a disastrous television interview about his friendship with a convicted sex offender.
Andrew worked 90 days this year before he retired from public duties in the wake of the backlash from his interview on the BBC’s Newsnight programme.
Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall sitting on the John Lennon memorial bench in John Lennon Square in Havana, Cuba, as part of an historic trip which celebrated cultural ties between the UK and the Communist state
The Duke of Cambridge alongside Joseph Dowden, 6, from Surrey, left, and Oliver Myers, 10, from Leeds, during a visit to the Fire Fighters Charity’s Harcombe House centre in Chudleigh, Devon to hear about the support that it provides to members of the UK’s fire and rescue services and their families
Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday December 30, 2019
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to a settlement of the Kalash people in Chitral, Pakistan on the third day of the royal visit to the country
Queen Elizabeth II with Princess Eugenie leaving St George’s Chapel in Windsor after the annual Royal Maundy Service
Harry and Meghan’s first child Archie was born on May 6, and the days worked by the couple reflect the period of maternity they both enjoyed and the extended festive break they have taken.
The duke spent 70 days carrying out official engagements while the duchess worked 31 days.
The Princess Royal regularly tops the list of number of days worked by members of the monarchy, and worked 165 days, while the Earl of Wessex worked 81 days. Anne worked 167 days in 2018.
The Prince of Wales makes a chapati at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara Sikh Temple, New Delhi, to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, on day one of the royal visit to India
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston leaving St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, following their wedding
The Duke of Cambridge speaking to Dean Hamilton (right) and Paul Richardson as he meets members of the Lion Barbers Collective, who are raising awareness of suicide prevention through a programme called BarbersTalk, during a visit to Pall Mall Barbers in Paddington, west London
The Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, Spain’s King Felipe and Dutch King Willem-Alexander march before the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
Prince of Wales wears a mala garland during a visit to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their formation, at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, Folkestone (left). Duchess of Sussex holding her son Archie as they attend the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day at Billingbear Polo Club, Wokingham, Berkshire (right)
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a Henna ceremony as they visit the ‘Education For All’ boarding house in Asni Town, Atlas Mountains on the second day of their tour of Morocco
The Duke of Sussex in a Quincey Shelter, a makeshift shelter built of snow, during a visit to Exercise Clockwork in Bardufoss, Norway, for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying for extreme cold weather training