Brits' most memorable moments of last 20 years - from COVID to coronations

Brits' most iconic moments of the last 20 years have been revealed - with the coronation of the King, the Queen’s Jubilee and the lifting of COVID restrictions leading the way.

Prince William and Kate Middleton getting married and the ‘Queen’ parachuting into the London 2012 opening ceremony rounded off the top five, according to a poll of 2,000 adults.

Moments of sporting excellence completed the top 10 for Brits – with the Lionesses winning the Euros, Andy Murray's Wimbledon victories, and Leicester City's Premier League win all appearing.

When it comes to music, Susan Boyle proved the most iconic, with her 2009 Britain’s Got Talent audition living long in people’s memories.

Other key music milestones include Elton John’s last UK performance at Glastonbury in 2023, and Liverpool hosting Eurovision.

Motorola UK commissioned the research to mark the 20-year anniversary of its razr smartphone, and the launch of the razr 50 ultra.

Miles Norman, UK&I general manager at the smartphone company, said: “Looking back on the last two decades, it's remarkable to see just how many iconic moments have happened that have shaped culture.

"From spectacular royal events to gripping sporting moments, each occasion has brought us joy. So much has changed since 2004, especially in the realm of technology.

"The majority of Brits are shocked at how fast the last twenty years have gone, but if you look at all that’s changed, you realise just how far we’ve come.”

The survey went on to find that 84% agree they can’t believe how quickly the last two decades have gone – and 75% are amazed by how much has changed since 2004.

Over the course of the next 20 years, 33% of Brits would love to see England finally ending all those years of hurt by winning a Euros or World Cup title.

Whereas 18% love the idea of more British films going on to have global success and acclaim, the research conducted via OnePoll found.

When thinking about their personal iconic moments since 2004, welcoming a new member to the family and going on a dream holiday capped off their favourite years in this period.

And others look back fondly on the year when they met their current partner and wedding day – as more than one in 10 (11%) capturing beloved memories on their smartphones every day.

Miles Norman from Motorola UK added: “One of the biggest changes in the past two decades has been how we capture and relive our favourite memories.

“The rise of smartphones in this period has had a massive impact on the way we document personal milestones and national events – the average Brit has over 1,000 cherished memories sorted on their devices.

“On top of this, a fifth anticipate more exciting infrastructure projects being completed in the next two decades – like theme parks, stadiums, and arenas."