So, here's a question – does anyone know if the royal family is doing anything interesting this year? Anything around, say . . . Spring? A royal wedding [1] and a new baby, perhaps? What else have they got up their sleeves? Well it's going to be a pretty jam-packed year — even by royal standards — with baby Cambridge number three [2] due in April and Harry and Meghan's wedding confirmed [3] for May 19th. There are also landmark birthdays, changes afoot for senior members of the family, and some pretty significant royal firsts for a certain Ms. Meghan Markle [4]. Let's take a look at their calendar for the next 12 months.
The Queen
On a personal level, Her Majesty will host grandson Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle [5] in the Spring, and she will then celebrate her 92nd birthday in April – just ahead of her sixth great-grandchild, the new Cambridge prince or princess.
Her Majesty will maintain a full diary of engagements throughout 2018, but she will also continue to delegate to her children and grandchildren – predominantly Prince Charles and Prince William [6]. Charles represented his mother in Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2013, but it's likely since the global summit is in 2018 held in London, that the queen will attend herself. We won't be seeing her at the annual State Opening of Parliament, though, as it has been cancelled to give Members of Parliament more time to deal with Brexit laws.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
It was recently reported that "Project 70" [7] is the name given to Prince Charles's transition to a more king-like role [8] by the time of his 70th birthday in November 2018. Charles has been taking on more responsibilities in recent years, and as well as representing his mother at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013, he also laid a wreath on her behalf on Remembrance Sunday in November 2017. In 2018 he will fly to Australia alongside Camilla to open the Commonwealth Games on behalf of the queen.
Charles's landmark birthday celebrations at the end of 2018 will be a big cause for celebration in the family. His 60th was marked with a big party at his country house Highgrove, with a set by standup comic Omid Djalili, a performance by Rod Stewart, and even a cover band so they could all dance the night away [9]. Charles's 70th is likely to follow a similar format, with family and celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, Rowan Atkinson, and Stephen Fry on the guest list.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
With their third child due in April, you might think Kate and William will be slowing down in 2018, but that is most definitely not the case! The royal couple are off to Sweden and Norway in January for four days, and Kate will fulfil a busy roster of engagements [10] until a month before her due date [11] – which means that one of her last public events is likely to be the handing out of shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St. Patrick's Day in March.
Kate is usually back to royal duties a month after giving birth, so just in time for Trooping the Colour – although she's sure to attend Harry and Meghan's wedding on May 19. William is looking likely to act as best man at Harry's wedding [12], just as Harry did for him in 2011. William and Kate may undertake a second mini tour at the end of the year – or if not then, a bigger one in early 2019, and possibly with the new baby!
Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte will be starting nursery in 2018 [13], and at the age of two and a half, she will be the same age as big brother George when he started two years ago. There will surely be adorable pictures taken of the event – possibly snapped by mom Kate.
The Cambridge children are sure to be scene-stealers as page boy and bridesmaid at their uncle Prince Harry's wedding in May, and although they are unlikely to join their parents on tour any time soon since George is at school now, we will get a George and Charlotte fix on the balcony at Trooping the Colour [14] in June.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Before their big day in May, we're likely to see the pair at a handful of royal engagements that are designed to introduce the British public to their new princess-in-waiting. Meanwhile, their wedding will be televised around the world, and we're likely to see Meghan in a tiara for the first time [15].
We will then see Meghan on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour for the first time [16], and by the end of the year she's likely to have announced a handful of charity patronages [17], and undertaken her first solo public engagement [18].
Harry and Meghan [19] are sure to head off on tour by the end of the year, just as William and Kate headed to Canada and LA three months after their wedding. Since Harry will be attending the fourth Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia in October 2018, and Meghan is likely to accompany him, there may be a tour of Australia and New Zealand in the works.
Autumn Phillips, Princess Beatrice, and Mike Tindall
Prince Charles isn't the only member of the royal family to be celebrating a landmark birthday next year. Autumn Phillips [20] (left) will be turning 40 on May 3, Princess Beatrice (second from left) will hit the big 3-0 [21] on August 8th, and Mike Tindall (right) celebrates his 40th on October 18. The royal family are a close-knit bunch, so there are sure to be lots of celebrations to mark their milestones.
Princess Eugenie
When Princess Eugenie appeared with a ring on the third finger of her left hand last year, the inevitable engagement rumours started. There has been no confirmation, but as she and boyfriend Jack Brooksbank their seventh anniversary next year [22], it could be that there will be another royal engagement announcement [23] in 2018 . . .