In a three-part series, we are taking a look back at some of the most memorable events of the royal year. This series will focus on the royals of mainland Europe and elsewhere, while a separate series will feature the year of the British Royal Family. Take a look below at 2017, from January through April.
January:
The Swedish Royal Family kicked off the new year by releasing a new family portrait that had been taken over the summer while at Solliden Palace.
The Swedish Royal Family at Solliden Palace in July 2016. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, The Royal Court, Sweden
The Danish Royal Family attended the annual New Year’s Levees at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg.
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New photos were also released in celebration of the sixth birthday of Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine – the twins of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Photo: Pernille Rohde, PR Photo
Crown Princess Mary, through her namesake foundation The Mary Foundation, launched a new anti-bullying campaign: Anti Bulli.
Crown Princess Mary plays handball with a group of children during one of the exercises. Photo: Steen Brogaard/Mary Foundation
Queen Rania of Jordan met women from the Sayyidat Nashmiyyat Group as part of her efforts to raise awareness of social media and online platforms in promoting positive change in communities and engendering greater social equality and opportunities.
Copyright © 2017, The Royal Hashemite Court
Copyright: RVD/Anko Stoffels
While one couple celebrated their golden anniversary, another announced their intent to divorce. After ten years of marriage, Prince Louis and Princess Tessy of Luxembourg announced their separation on 18 January.
Prince Louis, Tessy Antony and their son Gabriel after their wedding in 2006. Photo: Schnékert Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Princess Birgitta of Sweden turned 80, and the Swedish Royal Court released an image of her with her three sisters: Princess Margaret, Princess Désirée and Princess Christina, as well as her brother, King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Drottningholm Palace, 19 January 2017. Princess Birgitta turns 80.
Princess Margaret, Mrs Ambler, H. M. King Carl XVI Gustaf, H.R.H. Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson. Photo: Jonas Borg/Kungahuset.se
Queen Mathilde of Belgium during the Welcome Remarks and Special Address Session in Davos 17 January 2017. Copyright by World Economic Forum / Valeriano Di Domenico via Flickr
Princess Athena of Denmark also turned five, and the Royal Danish House released three images of the young royal taken by her mother, Princess Marie.
Photo: H.R.H. Princess Marie. © Kongehuset
February:
The Crown Princess Family of Sweden released two new pictures on the third of the month.
The Crown Princess Family of Sweden: Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström/Royal Court, Sweden
Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck – son of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (aka The Dragon King) and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan – turned one on 5 February. He featured on the month’s calendar for Yellow Bhutan.
© Yellow Bhutan
New photos were released ahead of Princess Astrid’s 85th birthday. Astrid is the older sister of King Harald of Norway.
Their Majesties the King and Queen held a dinner for Princess Astrid at the Palace. Published in honour of The Princess 85th Birthday on 12 February 2017. Photo: Morten Brun, The Royal Court.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium addressed the conference ‘Children and Armed Conflict’ at the Egmont Palace in Brussels.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium and NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller at a meeting for Children in Armed Conflict in March. Photo: NATO/Flickr
Infanta Cristina of Spain was acquitted of corruption.
Credit: Juan Manuel Herrera / OAS
Cousins Princess Leonore and Princess Estelle of Sweden celebrated their birthdays just days apart. Leonore turned three, while Estelle turned five.
Photo released by the Court for Leonore’s third birthday. Photo: Brigitte Grenfeldt, The Royal Court, Sweden
One of two images released for Estelle’s 5th birthday. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, The Royal Court, Sweden
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain hosted the President of Argentina and his wife on a state visit.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey
The Dutch Royal Family also hosted their annual winter photo session Lech, Austria.
COPYRIGHT ROBIN UTRECHT/RVD
March:
Prince Oscar celebrated his first birthday on 2 March.
Photo: Kungahuset.se
It was announced that Princess Christina of Sweden would undergo a stem cell transplant to treat leukaemia.
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, Royal Court, Sweden
It was revealed that King Salman of Saudi Arabia travelled with 506 tonnes of luggage on a tour of Asia.
King Salman. DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo. (Released)
Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the Special Olympics – World Winter Games in Austria. She walked in the Opening Ceremony.
Photo: GEPA pictures/ Markus Oberlaender
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway met female entrepreneurs who “supply solar lamps, highly absorbent feed sheets and other solutions to the United Nations work in crisis areas,” according to the Royal Court.
Photo: InnovationNorway (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain attended a memorial concert for all those killed in terror attacks over the years.
During the moment of silence for the victims of terror attacks. Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey
Queen Rania of Jordan was awarded the ‘Global Trailblazer’ Award.
Copyright © 2017, The Royal Hashemite Court
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway defeated Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in a skiing competition.
Photo: Gunn-Eva Høgseth, Det kongelige hoff / The Royal Court.
It was also announced that Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden were expecting their second child.
Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Alexander. Photo: The Royal Court, Sweden
For the first three years of Princess Leonore of Sweden’s life, there was much debate on whether or not she held dual citizenship of Sweden and the United States. The Royal Court confirmed exclusively to Royal Central that she does indeed carry both.
April:
Prince Felix of Denmark was confirmed into the Church of Denmark.
Prince Felix with Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik, HRH Prince Joachim and H.E. Countess of Frederiksborg, HRH Princess Marie, HH Prince Nikolai, Prince Henrik, Princess Athena, Fr. Christa Manley and Prince’s godparents Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Oscar Davidsen Siesby, Damian Sibley, Martina Bent and Annick Boel. © Steen Brogaard, Kongehuset
King and Queen of Jordan travelled to the United States and met President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The King and Queen with the President and First Lady in the Oval Office. Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
New images were released ahead of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg’s 62nd birthday.
Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
Prince Alexander of Sweden celebrated his first birthday just a month after it was announced that he was going to be a big brother.
Photo: Prince Carl Philip/Royal Court, Sweden
Several kidnapped Qatari royals released after 18 months.
Prince Liam with his parents, sister and godparents. © 2017 Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés
New photos of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands were released for his birthday.
© RVD / Frank van Beek
The Dutch Royal Family also launched their official Instagram account on King’s Day.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden also celebrated his birthday at the end of the month.
His Majesty on the balcony with his wife, Queen Silvia and their granddaughter Princess Estelle. Photo: Kungahuset.se
