From Bond to new baby, 2015 was a busy year for William and Kate

Updated

It's been an exciting time for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge over the past year - a newly renovated home in the country, a new job for William and, of course, a new baby daughter. Here's a look back at William, Kate, Prince George and Princess Charlotte's top 10 moments of 2015.

1) NEW BABY

2015 was the year the Cambridges became a family of four, with William, Kate and Prince George celebrating the arrival of Princess Charlotte.

The nation was kept waiting as Kate went overdue just like she did with George, but finally on May 2, news came that the new royal baby was a girl, weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Proud big brother George was taken to see his sister in hospital by William to the delight of the crowds. The Prince, sporting a side parting, copied his father by waving at the crowds, hurried towards him for reassurance and received a kiss on the head from William as he was carried up the steps.

The new baby Princess - who is fourth in line to the throne - made her debut outside the Lindo Wing in London, dressed in a cream knitted bonnet and wrapped in a merino wool shawl, sleeping soundly in Kate's arms.

Her name was later revealed as Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana - a tribute to both the Queen and William's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

The family decamped to their revamped Norfolk home, Anmer Hall and Kensington Palace released a set of poignant photographs, taken by the Duchess, showing the two week old Princess being gently cradled by George.

2) TROOPING THE COLOUR

A few weeks later, toddler George took part in an important royal rite of passage when he appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the first time at the Trooping the Colour parade in June.

He was dressed in the same baby blue outfit that William wore for the occasion as a youngster. It was Kate's first official engagement since the birth of her second child.

George was also spotted at the palace windows with his nanny, sticking his tongue out and delightedly watching the soldiers.

3) GEORGE AT THE POLO

While William and Prince Harry played polo in June at Beaufort Polo Club in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, George and Kate entertained each other by dancing about nearby.

The Prince, dressed in navy shorts, a royal blue cardigan and a white shirt, clambered up a bank, grabbed handfuls of grass and happily rolled around. The photos offered a rare glimpse of George at his most relaxed.

4) CHARLOTTE'S CHRISTENING

In July, Princess Charlotte was christened in front of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Middletons at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Norfolk.

The nine-week-old Princess was wheeled to church by Kate in a vintage pram the Queen once used for two of her own children, while George, who turned two later that month, walked from nearby Sandringham House holding William's hand. It was the first time the Cambridges had been seen all together in public.

5) TOP GUN

William took to the skies in a Chipmunk plane at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in September to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Wearing an olive green flying jumpsuit and a helmet, the Duke climbed into the cockpit for the short flight.

In the summer, William began his new job as an East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter pilot - the next phase in his career outside of royal duties.

He spoke of his nerves and excitement as he clocked on for his first shift and he flew on four life-saving missions during his first week.

6) GLITZ AT THE PALACE

Kate broke away from her maternity leave to attend a series of official engagements throughout the year including the Duke and the Duchess's first ever state banquet at Buckingham Palace in October.

Held for China's first state visit to the UK in a decade, it was high profile occasion.

Kate wore a sparkling red Jenny Packham dress - the colour of the Chinese national flag - and the delicate Lotus Flower Tiara to the grand banquet in the palace ballroom.

7) WELLY WANGING

William and Kate - joined by Prince Harry - pitched in with an impromptu welly-wanging contest at Bafta's headquarters in London for a meeting of their Charities Forum.

The royal trio were joined by dozens of children, helped by organisations they support, with William donning a Shaun the Sheep hat during an Aardman Animations craft workshop and Kate getting hugs from some of the excited youngsters.

8) BOND PREMIERE

Glamour was also the order of the day when William and Kate stepped out at the world premiere of the new Bond film Spectre.

The Duchess wowed the crowds in a flowing, pale blue Jenny Packham gown with a daring sheer back, while the Duke looked dapper in a 007 style tuxedo.

9) DAREDEVILS

William and Kate showed off their daredevil side during a visit to an outdoor activity centre in North Wales in November.

Dressed in waterproof jackets and walking boots, they grinned at each other before taking the plunge and abseiling down a 12-metre wall.

10) FAMILY PHOTOS

New photos of Charlotte were released to mark her six month milestone.

Again taken by Kate, one showed dark-haired, blue-eyed Charlotte, dressed in a pink cardigan and floral print dress, laughing at a cuddly toy dog, while another captured her looking past the camera as if something has caught her attention behind the Duchess.

In December, the Duke and Duchess also shared their official Christmas card picture with the public to coincide with the announcement that George would be starting nursery in January. The image showed William and Kate crouching down with their children in the gardens of Kensington Palace.

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