🇬🇧United Kingdom · 10s
Prince George and Same-Sex Marriage
Marriage equality became law, a future king was born, and Andy Murray finally won Wimbledon.
5 milestones of 2013
Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales. The first ceremonies took place in March 2014. David Cameron championed the reform despite opposition from many in his own party.
LGBTQ+ rights — celebrate as milestone
Prince George Alexander Louis was born at St Mary's Hospital. Third in line to the throne. Media camped outside for weeks. William and Kate showed him on the hospital steps.
Andy Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. The nation watched. Tim Henman was probably crying. Fred Perry's ghost could rest.
Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered by two Islamist extremists near Woolwich Barracks in broad daylight. The attackers waited for police while passers-by confronted them. The brutality shocked the nation.
Terrorist murder — honour the victim with deep respect
Margaret Thatcher died aged 87. She received a ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral. The nation was divided in death as in life — some mourned, others celebrated. 'Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead' reached number 2.
Polarizing political figure — acknowledge both grief and celebration without judgment
70% local · 30% international
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón — Sandra Bullock in space. Filmed at Shepperton Studios.
12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen — British director, British star (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Best Picture Oscar.
Philomena
Stephen Frears — Judi Dench searching for her son. True story. Quietly devastating.
About Time
Richard Curtis — Domhnall Gleeson time-travels. Curtis's sweetest film.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Peter Jackson — Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. British actors in Middle-earth.
Broadchurch
2013-2017 — David Tennant and Olivia Colman. A child's murder in Dorset. Gripping.
Peaky Blinders
2013-2022 — Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby. Birmingham gangsters. By order of.
The Great British Bake Off
2013 — Frances Quinn won. The show was becoming a national obsession.
Doctor Who 50th Anniversary
Nov 2013 — 'The Day of the Doctor' with Tennant, Smith, and Hurt. 12 million watched.
Gogglebox
2013-present — People watching people watching TV. Somehow brilliant. Channel 4.
Currency: GBP
Inflation: 2.6%
Recovery beginning. Austerity continuing. Zero-hours contracts increasing. The cost-of-living debate growing.
Inflation-adjusted values
4G rollout
4G mobile internet expanding across the UK.
Vine
Six-second video app launched — short-form video era.
Snapchat Stories
Ephemeral social media growing — privacy as feature.
Bitcoin surge
Bitcoin reached $1,000 for the first time.
Smart watches
Pebble and Samsung leading wearable technology.
Download or share cards from this year
1200×630 · WhatsApp/Facebook