Royal photographer reveals his favourite moments of 2017

From a toddler tantrum to a long-awaited royal proposal, 2017 has been an unforgettable year for the Royal family.

It was the year that the Duke of Edinburgh announced his retirement from public duties, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge embarked on a 'Brexit charm offensive' in Europe with adorable Prince George and Princess Charlotte in tow.

Shortly after celebrating his fourth birthday, the third-in-line to the throne melted hearts when he had his first day at 'big school' with a reluctant Kate, pregnant with the couple's first child, forced to stay at home with severe morning sickness.

Getty Images Royal photographer Chris Jackson, who is married to Kate's PA Natasha Archer, was there to see at all and here, he shares his favourite moments with MailOnline. 

'There had been much anticipation over recent months that we would hear an engagement announcement from Kensington Palace as things seemed to be getting serious for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, especially after their first official public appearance at the Invictus Games in Toronto. 

'However, on a cold and bleak Monday morning it seemed to catch many by surprise. This surprise turned to excitement pretty quickly though as a group of invited media got the opportunity to photograph and film the happy couple in the sunken garden at Kensington Palace, a poignant and meaningful gesture to introduce Meghan to the world in one of Prince Harry’s mother’s favourite places.' 

'Undoubtedly one of the more surprising photographs of 2017. When Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip met Donna the Asian Elephant at Whipsnade Zoo in April. 

'No one was really expecting the monarch to interact with this giant animal in any way so when we were briefed that the Queen may actually give Donna some lunch the realisation that I may be in for a different kind of shot sunk in! 

'Whilst I loved the moment the Queen actually fed a banana to the curious animal my favourite image was when Donna, trunk at full stretch, tried to cheekily snaffle a banana from the HM as she chuckled to herself with the Duke looking on with a bemused expression! 

'Out of shot are a number of worried looking zookeepers on-hand in case Donna decided to get a little bit too close to the Royal couple!' 

'During a visit to the Dyson Innovation Centre in Singapore, as part of an official royal tour by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to the far East, the Prince was being shown some of the company’s most recent products. 

'The Prince was clearly quite taken by the Dyson V8 Absolute vacuum cleaner and thought he might test it out on my trousers! In situations like this you have to be pretty quick off the draw and I was pleased to see I had managed to keep the shot in focus. 

'The Prince always has a great sense of humour in situations like this and it certainly made what could have been quite a mundane visit pictorially into something a little more fun!'

These two big personalities seem to have built up a great friendship over the years. I photographed Michelle Obama at the Invictus Games in Orlando last year and it was exciting for me to photograph Barak Obama at the Invictus Games in Toronto this year. 

'They clearly had a lot to catch up on as they watched an energetic game of wheelchair basketball. Invictus Toronto 2017 was a great success and built on the experience and lessons of the last few years. 

'It means so much to the competitors and families and one thing I particularly liked this year was how the event was so integrated into daily Toronto life right in the middle of the City which was buzzing.'

'One of my standout images of the year. A real honour to get the opportunity to photograph this fun and energetic young boy. 

'The image was released by Kensington Palace to celebrate the young Prince’s 4th birthday.'

'The Musée d’Orsay in Paris is a spectacular converted railway station that now houses some of the world’s most iconic pieces of art. 

'In a world of ‘day to day’ royal pictures, it was a unique moment as I got the opportunity to photograph the royal couple taking in the view though the iconic old railway clocks, looking out over the river Seine. 

'The Duchess glanced to the left slightly and positioning them between the "spokes" of the clock I was very happy with the resulting image – certainly something a little different and rare to see this famous couple on their own in this way.' 

Prince Harry and the 'popcorn burglar', September 2017