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Lim Li Ying

We plebeians have a never-ending fascination with royalty – be it with Queen Elizabeth or the Thai king’s personal affairs – and this year has been an eventful time for both Western and Eastern royals alike. Here, we chart the significant milestones, announcements and news from 2019.
The Thai king’s ex-wife in exile: Sujarinee Vivacharawongse’s life and legacy

Meet the 21-year-old Indian ‘king’ renting out his palace on Airbnb

Why aren’t Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton neighbours any more?

How Japan’s Empress Masako came out of the shadows

The world’s 21 richest royals revealed

Is Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn a modern-day Henry VIII?
5 things to know about the Thai king’s former royal consort

Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .


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UK’s King Charles and Princess Kate attend remembrance event as both slowly return to duty

Trump victory threatens Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s US future amid deportation fears; Kate Middleton health update

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Royalty

The British royal family, the Thai king, Japan’s Empress Masako – what was the most shocking royal event of 2019?

Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Japan’s Empress Masako were all in the news this year. Photos: SCMP

Padmanabh Singh. Photo: Instagram

Meghan Markle, left, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the first Royal Foundation Forum on February 28, 2018, in London. (Rota/i-Images/Zuma Press/TNS)

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and General Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, the royal consort pose at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters August 27, 2019. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his newly named royal consort Sineenat of her titles and military ranks for being "disloyal" and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida, the palace said late on Monday. Royal Household Bureau/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE.

Empress Masako, poses for a photo at her residence in Tokyo, Japan, December 3, 2019, ahead of her 56th birthday on December 9, in this handout photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Photo taken December 3, 2019. Mandatory credit. The Imperial Household Agency of Japan/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn is carried on a sedan-chair after taking part in the Royal Barge procession near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

How Japan’s Empress Masako overcame the pressures of the throne – 5 things to know about the once-shy wife of Emperor Naruhito

Japan's Empress Masako at the enthronement ceremony at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace in October 2019. Photo: Reuters

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito, accompanied by new Empress Masako, makes his first address during a ritual after succeeding his father Akihito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (Japan Pool via AP)

epa07985378 Japan's Emperor Naruhito (L) and Empress Masako wave to well-wishers during their parade in Tokyo, Japan, 10 November 2019. Tens of thousands of people greeted the Imperial couple along the 4.6-kilometer route. Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum throne on 01 May 2019 after his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, abdicated on 30 April 2019. He was officially proclaimed Emperor of Japan on 22 October 2019. EPA-EFE/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

epa03970907 Japanese Crown Princess Masako smiles as she sends off Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, 30 November 2013. The Japanese Emperor and Empress will be in India for a state visit from 30 November to 06 December 2013. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

FILE PHOTO: Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet well-wishers during their first public appearance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan May 4, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

(FILES) This Imperial Household Agency file handout photo taken on June 2, 1993 shows Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito (L) and his bride, Masako Owada (R), in full traditional Japanese Imperial wedding costumes at the Imperial Palace. - Japan's Emperor Akihito will step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne on April 30, the first abdication in the world's oldest imperial family for two centuries, ending 30 years of his popular reign and ushering in a new era. (Photo by Handout / Imperial Household Agency / AFP) / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD AGENCY" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

5 things to know about Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, son of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn

Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti is the Thai king’s only recognised son. Photo: Instagram

epa05583667 (FILE) A file handout made available by Thai Airways International shows His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (L) with Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi (R) and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (R bottom) on the occasion of him piloting a Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight to Gaya, India, for Merit Making, departing in Bangkok, Thailand, on 13 November 2010. According to a statement by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on 13 October 2016, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is to succeed Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. A Royal Palace statement, issued in Bangkok, stated that King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch, has died aged 88 in Siriraj hospital on 13 October 2016. EPA/THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL / HANDO HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES *** Local Caption *** 02460895

CORRECTION - This screengrab from Thai TV Pool video taken on May 4, 2019 shows family members of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn from left, son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, daughter Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter Princess Bajrakitiyabha Manidol, sister Princess Ubolratana, sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Queen Suthida (R) attending the coronation of King Vajiralongkorn at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. (Photo by Thai TV Pool / THAI TV POOL / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Handout has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [adding identification of Queen Suthida and position in the photo]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will en

Why aren’t Prince Harry and Meghan Markle neighbours with Prince William and Kate Middleton any more? Where all the British royal family members really live

The many royals of Kensington Palace, and where they live. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left in early 2019 and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are moving to a new, smaller residence on the property. Photo: Business Insider

The Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester. Photo: Wikipedia

Andrew Parsons/PA Archive/PA Images

(From R to L) The Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Prince Michael of Kent, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Margaret, the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen Mum, the young Duke of Kent, the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Prince William of Gloucester and the prince Richard of Gloucester, on the Queen's Coronation's day, 02 June 1953 in Buckingham Palace.

epaselect epa07465205 Prince Charles (R) and Camila, Duchess of Cornwall (C) sit next to a statue of John Lennon during their visit in Cuba, 26 March 2019. EPA-EFE/Ernesto Mastrascusa

In this photo released on Saturday, Oct. 13 2018 by Buckingham Palace, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank embrace, in the Scottish State Coach, upon its return to Windsor Castle following the Carriage Procession after their Wedding, at St George's Chapel on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. (Alex Bramall/Buckingham Palace via AP)

Reuters

BBC News

Handout photo issued by Kensington Palace of US President Barack Obama (right) talking with Britain's Prince William (2nd right) while Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays with Prince George as he rides a rocking horse while the First Lady Michelle Obama talks to Prince Harry (left) Friday April 22, 2016. Kensington Palace/Pete Souza/White House Photographer/PA Wire/Handout via ReutersATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrive at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to attend a ball hosted by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

epa07929807 Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with golden labrador puppies Salto and Sky as they visit an Army Canine Centre where the UK provides support to a programme that trains dogs to identify explosive devices, Islamabad, Pakistan, 18 October 2019. The royal couple is on an official five-day visit to Pakistan. It is the first royal visit to the country in 13 years. EPA-EFE/CHRIS JACKSON / POOL

5 things  to know about  Sirivannavari Nariratana, the gifted Thai princess

Thai princess Sirivannavari Nariratana poses before the Chanel fashion show at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 2, 2018. Photo: AFP

epa06296631 Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (C) daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, rides her horse with the royal guards during the procession for the transferring of the relics and ashes of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to be enshrined in Wat Rajabopidh Sathitmahasimaram and Wat Bovoranives Vihara temples, as part of the royal cremation ceremony, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, 29 October 2017. King Bhumibol died at the age of 88 on 13 October 2016 after 70 years on the throne. EPA-EFE/NARONG SANGNAK

epa07546873 A Royal Household Bureau handout photo shows members of the royal family (L-R), the king's daughters Princess Bajrakitiyabha and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, Queen Suthida and the king's son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti during the monarch's coronation ceremony at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, 04 May 2019. The three-day ancient elaborate traditional coronation ceremonies of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn is a formal ceremony to complete the monarch's accession to the throne. EPA-EFE/ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

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Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are no longer neighbours and the Thai king’s consort was removed – but what other royal events made it into the news?
