Prince William and Kate's loved-up year in pictures

Content Managing Editor

December 29, 2016Dec 29, 2016, 3:41 PM GMT

Their fifth wedding anniversary, their first holiday as a family-of-four and not one but two royal tours abroad – it's been a year of highs for Prince William and Kate.

Looking back at the photos of the royals in 2016, it's clear to see that William and Kate often share the look of love, and it's those natural, very real displays of affection that endear us to the couple.

Click through our gallery to see William and Kate's sweetest moments...

William and Kate marked a milestone in March when they took their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte on their first holiday as a family-of-four. The royals enjoyed a short break in the French Alps and happily posed for official portraits.

While George and Charlotte had their first taste of snow, William and Kate broke from the formality of the photocall and showed off their playful sides, giggling and throwing snowballs at each other.

During their tour of India in April, William and Kate set off on safari to see elephants, rhinos, bird species and water buffalo.

Just before their Jeep drove off to begin the open-air tour at Kaziranga National Park, Kate protectively squeezed her husband's thigh and said: "We're all safe."

The couple also took part in a game of cricket with locals at the Oval Maidan in Mumbai.

After William was caught out by one of the children during the match, while Kate managed to bat the first ball, the Duchess sweetly consoled her husband.

While in Assam the couple visited the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation.

William and Kate had fun playing mother and father to the smallest animals in the group, two elephants and one rhino – and made sure they drank every drop of milk.

They sweetly shared a private moment at the Mark Shand Foundation, crouching down to put the finishing touches to an elephant sculpture.

Away from the media's gaze, William and Kate shared a rare moment of public affection, walking side-by-side.

The couple were trekking to the Tiger's Nest during their tour of Bhutan in April and as they climbed up the mountain together, the Duke and Duchess sweetly supported one another.

The couple both share a passion for sport, especially tennis. Every summer William and Kate attend Wimbledon, where they are given the best Centre Court seats in the house.

The pair are clearly smitten with each other, five years into their marriage. This sweet snap was taken during their mini tour to Cornwall in September, when they spent one night in a romantic hotel.

Kate clearly feels immense pride for her husband, who is second-in-line to the throne. Even during public engagements, such as The Patron's Lunch to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in June, William and Kate couldn't hide their affection for each other.

In September, the couple returned to Canada – the place they first visited five years ago as newlyweds. This time William and Kate travelled to Yukon and British Columbia with their adorable children George and Charlotte.

Looking at the photos, the pair could still pass as newlyweds, laughing and sharing sweet looks of love...

At their engagement announcement in 2010, William was asked what made them click. "Where to start? We're both fun… down to earth… we take the mickey out of each other," said the Duke. It's clear that the couple still have that spark and love spending time together.

Their similar sense of humour was one of the reasons William and Kate fell for each other. The lovebirds are often pictured giggling, this time during a storytelling session at the MacBride museum.

The Duke and Duchess, in a red Caroline Herrera coat and heels, sat down on a log to join the schoolchildren. The book opens with a character called William the Moose, which prompted William and Kate to burst out laughing.

The couple are always in sync, and protective William cares deeply for Kate, who he first met at university moons ago.

"Over the years William has looked after me, he's very supportive of me in the good times and the bad," Kate has said in the past.

At the children's party in Victoria, held in honour of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the doting parents sweetly shared the responsibility of looking after their children.

Proving that they are one incredible A-team, William and Kate took charge of each of their kids, while also making sure they enjoyed the moment themselves.

The Cambridges looked like any other family, playing with balloons, running around the petting zoo and George gently teased his younger sister, squirting her with a water gun.

We can't wait to see what 2017 will bring for William and Kate!

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