From royal weddings to World Cup fever, 2018 has been an eventful year which has produced some unforgettable moments captured by the world’s best photographers.
The past 12 months have included a handful of treasured royal moments including the birth of Prince Louis in April.
In May, people around the world were glued to their TVs as the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry married American bride Meghan Markle in a glittering ceremony watched by millions.
Royal fans once again lined the streets of Windsor in October when Princess Eugenie tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank in a beautiful ceremony attended by scores of A-list guests.
Aside from royal events, some of the most striking pictures taken in 2018 capture moments of sadness and mourning.
One picture taken last month shows a sea of floral tributes left for Leicester City’s late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh, who died with four others when his helicopter crashed at King Power Stadium.
Harrowing images also show the devastation left behind in the United States by both Hurricane Michael in October and the horrific wildfires which swept across California in November.
Some monumental political moments have also taken place in 2018, from the chaotic countdown to Brexit to the death of former US President George H.W Bush earlier this month.
In an extraordinary moment during the G20 summit, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared an animated high-five when they met.
Both leaders have recently faced international criticism, after Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian vessels and the Crown Prince being accused of ordering the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
There has been some high profile events in Capitol Hill this year, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying before a combined Senate Judiciary and Commerce committee in April.
Christine Blasey Ford in September gave evidence against the now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Check out our gallery above for our full selection of the photographs that defined 2018.
