It’s been a rocky year.
For over a thousand years, the British monarchy has served as a symbol of “stability and continuity” for the Commonwealth, and Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign was emblematic of this. As sovereign, her staid presence provided Britain with a sense of constancy through war, recession, and immense social, economic, and technological change. But her death last September has thrown the monarchy into a state of flux. In the months since, there’s been a great deal of change and drama within the royal family, even for this famously tumultuous clan.
Here’s a look at all the developments that have taken place among the Windsors since the queen’s death, from the new line of succession to the latest on the royal rift between Prince Harry and Prince William.
September 2022: A new line of succession
With the death of the Queen, the royal family reorganized around a new line of succession. As the Queen’s oldest child, Charles III was assigned to the throne, while his firstborn, Prince William, became the heir apparent. Next in line are William’s children, 10-year-old Prince George, followed by Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Although he’s no longer a working royal, Prince Harry is now fifth in the order of ascension.
December 2022: Harry & Meghan is released
Netflix dropped its juicy, two-part docuseries all about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s dramatic courtship and the controversy that followed. The couple spoke candidly about their mental health, the muted support they’ve received from Buckingham Palace, and a contentious family summit in 2020.
“It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me and have my father say things that simply weren’t true and have my grandmother, you know, quietly sit there and sort of take it all in,” Harry says in the documentary.
January 2023: Spare is published
After its release was postponed after the Queen’s death, Prince Harry’s highly anticipated memoir finally hit bookshelves. The tell-all became an instant bestseller, setting a first-day sales record for any nonfiction book ever published by Penguin Random House.
It also reportedly widened the rift between Harry and William. A source told Us Weekly after Spare’s publication: “At this point, [William’s] got no plans to speak to Harry. He’s come to terms with the fact [that] he’s lost his little brother and quite possibly for life.”
March 2023: Eviction from Frogmore Cottage
King Charles asked Harry and Meghan to give up Frogmore Cottage, their U.K. home. The late Queen gave the property, located about a half mile south of Windsor Castle, to Harry after he was married in 2018, but it’s technically owned by King Charles through the Crown Estate. The couple lived in the 10-bedroom house from 2019 until 2020 and had some $3 million worth of renovations done, TIME reports.
March 2023: Princess Lilibet’s christening
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held an intimate christening for their daughter, Lilibet Diana at their home in Montecito, California. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton were all reportedly invited to the ceremony but did not attend.
A few days later, and after much speculation, the royal website was updated to include both Lilibet and her older brother Archie’s titles. They’re now officially Prince Archie of Sussex and Prince Lilibet of Sussex.
May 2023: King Charles’ coronation
Amid a great deal of family tension, Britain’s newest monarch and Camilla, the queen consort, were anointed at Westminster Abbey in a lavish, three-day celebration. Although rumors swirled that Harry wouldn’t show, the Duke of Sussex did attend — although he sat separately from his brother. The Duchess of Sussex, however, remained in California with Lilibet and Archie.
May 2023: A “near catastrophic” car crash
Harry and Meghan narrowly avoided a “catastrophic” car accident in New York City, a spokesperson for the couple said. The couple was leaving an event and were trying to escape paparazzi when the incident occurred. Thankfully, they both escaped safely from the situation — which is chillingly similar to the events leading up to Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in 1997.
August 2023: A royal reset for Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, who was dismissed as a working royal for his entanglements with Jeffrey Epstein, was photographed en route to Balmoral, the Scottish estate where the family summers. The appearance initially sparked speculation that the new King could restore his brother’s royal status, but sources have since said that’s not the case.
