8 times the British Royals made headlines in 2020

2020 has been a rollercoaster ride for all of us. From dealing with the pandemic to bringing back our lives to normalcy, everything has been a challenge this year. While common people have struggled during this period to make ends meet, the British royals have endured their own share of scandals and controversies in 2020. From the royal exit made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the Queen facing backlash for the royal honors medal's racist imagery, the royal family has had their share of trials and tribulations.

Here are some of the biggest royal news and scandals of 2020.

In January, the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to renounce their roles as royals and stepped back from the royal duties. The royal couple took to Instagram to make the announcements and stated that they “intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”

While the split between Peter Phillips, the Queen's grandson, and his wife, Autumn was evident in 2019, the couple announced their separation this year. While the rumors about Autumn returning to her native country Canada was spreading like wildfire, their spokesperson denied it by saying, "Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years."

In March, this year, the Duke of Wales, Prince Charles contracted the novel coronavirus, which became a matter of great concern for the royal household. Following the revelation of his reports, the Prince self-isolated himself in Scotland. However, Camilla Parker Bowles, his wife, tested negative for the virus.

In light of the global pandemic, Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who were to tie the knot in the month of May, married on 17th July, 2020. The couple chose to keep the ceremony completely exclusive and intimate and made sure that it was attended by the closest of family and friends.

During the time when people in America took to the streets protesting and claiming justice for George Floyd, a black American man, who was brutally killed by the cops, the Queen of England received heavy backlash due to the racist imagery depicted on the royal honors medal. Jamaica's governor-general Patrick Allen boycotted his own medal, which was presented to him by Her Majesty. Over 19,000 people signed a petition urging the Queen to have the medal redesigned.

While the royals are banned from talking or even mentioning anything about politics, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle broke their silence about the same. In light of the US general election, during a virtual appearance at the When Women Vote conference in August, Markle said those who didn't vote would be "complicit." She also emphasised on the importance of voting and asked people to understand what's at stake.

Following a recent over-the-top web series, Prince Charles faced a lot of backlash, considering his treatment of Princess Diana and his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles in the series. While Prince William is second in line to the throne, royal fans took to the internet by storm and urged the Queen to reconsider his place in the line of succession.

In an opinion article published in the New York Times, Meghan Markle reveals the heartbreaking story of her miscarriage and the loss of her second child. In the article, Meghan has expressed her grief and said, “Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few."