Prince George starts school, bargain of the year and horse v Maserati: Country Life’s top Facebook posts of 2017

Throughout this week we're taking a look back at the most popular stories of the year – today, it's the turn of our Facebook page, where a mixture of royal news, beautiful houses, quirky features and stunning photography were all big hits.

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(Image credit: PA Images)

Prince George's first day at school

We can all relate to this, whether thinking back on our own memories of school or – no wonder it resonated with you.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155323616057107

These two dormice

Both utterly adorable and completely irresistible.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155068323722107

This dark and mysterious wood

Spooky, ethereal, beautiful.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155041321287107:0

The Pride and Prejudice house

Elizabeth Bennet's house from the classic 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice  came up for sale earlier this year

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10154935197757107

The Royal engagement

Everybody loves Prince Harry, and we were all delighted at the news of his engagement.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155534543107107

This breathtaking country house

Mawley Hall is the sort of place that you normally visit via the National Trust, rather than one which you see on the open market.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155433752247107

Bargain of the year?

A castle going for a song, just up the road from Britain's ultimate golfing hotspot.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155324151082107

The Teddy Bears' Chelsea Flower Show picnic

Topiary meets teddy.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155017630072107:0

Man (+Maserati) v Horse

A twist on the old 'man v horse' race pitted one of Britain's finest jockeys against his brother.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/videos/10154849961637107

The day the sun turned red

An explanation of this most bizarre of phenomena proved a big hit.

https://www.facebook.com/CountryLifeMagazine/posts/10155425940932107

Toby Keel

Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.