Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Relationship Timeline

Who says there's no such thing as American royalty? Beyoncé and Jay-Z would like to have a word. With or without actual titles — let's not get too focused on details — the two are undeniably some of the most powerful people walking the planet. Who else could basically stop the rotation of the earth with a surprise release or get the entire internet to rally around a baby bump reveal?

And while it hasn't been the smoothest relationship ever (#elevatorgate), the "Halo" singer and "Empire State of Mind" rapper have remained together for over two decades. They continue to make headlines (see: award-winning music, bold fashion choices, and adorable children) while simultaneously keeping a few major milestones completely secret. What did we say about being powerful? Nobody else could do it the way they have. To commemorate their musical love story, we've compiled everything you need to know about the couple, from their first date to their first joint fashion campaign.

Here's a look back at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's relationship timeline.

2000:  Beyoncé and Jay-Z first meet

If it feels like Bey and Jay have been together forever, it's because they basically have. The two started dating in 2000 when Beyoncé was still performing as part of Destiny's Child.

"I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we first started dating," she told Seventeen in 2008 (via MTV News). "There was no rush — no one expected me to run off and get married."

Jay-Z also offered some insight into the beginning of their relationship on the couple's 2018 joint project Everything Is Love, specifically on the track titled "713": "We played it cool at the pool of the Cancun, VMA / Confidence you exude make the fools stay away / Me, I played my room, let the fools have they say / Fate had me sittin' next to you on the plane / And I knew straight away."

2001:  Beyoncé and Jay-Z are first spotted together

According to Brides, the couple's first official date was at none other than Nobu, the restaurant frequented by the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, and just about every other famous person.

In a sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé explained that she and Jay-Z had cultivated a friendship before anything got romantic. 

"We were friends first for a year and a half before we went on any dates," Beyoncé said.

October 10, 2002: Beyoncé and Jay-Z release their first musical collaboration

The first of the couple's many musical collaborations dropped with Beyoncé's signature vocals helping Jay-Z out on his track "03 Bonnie and Clyde."

A year later, the two released "Crazy in Love." The song would go on to earn them a Grammy for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2004 ceremony.

August 29, 2004: Beyoncé and Jay-Z make their red carpet debut as a couple

If two tunes weren't official enough, the two hit the red carpet together for the first time at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.

November 1, 2006: Beyoncé and Jay-Z spark marriage rumors

In what could be a hint at their future wedding, Beyoncé told Cosmopolitan that she didn't think she'd ever have a big wedding.

"I don't know when I'll want to get married. I never pictured myself as a bride, but after my sister's wedding, I did start thinking about what kind of wedding I'd want. I don't think I want a big one," she said.

April 4, 2008: Beyoncé and Jay-Z get married

True to her word, Beyoncé and Jay-Z had a secret wedding. The ceremony was "very emotional," according to People, and the date was a big deal since the number four is significant to both Bey and Jay. Fans didn't even know that the two had gotten engaged, but news outlets were tipped off when the couple obtained a wedding license in N.Y.C.

During an interview with Vibe in late 2008, Jay-Z discussed why everything was so secretive. 

"You'll go insane in this type of business," he said. "You have to have something that's sacred to you and the people around you."

August 28, 2011: Beyoncé announces she and Jay-Z are expecting

Beyoncé shared her pregnancy in the most iconic way: while performing "Love on Top" at the MTV VMAs. 

"I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that's growing inside me," she said.

January 7, 2012: Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcome their first child together

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, in New York City on January 7, 2012. Glamour reported that Beyoncé shared the first photos of her new arrival on Tumblr, writing, "We welcome you to share in our joy."

In her documentary, Life Is But a Dream, Beyoncé opened up about having a miscarriage before she and Jay-Z welcomed Blue Ivy.

"I heard the heartbeat, which was the most beautiful music I ever heard in my life… being pregnant was very much like falling in love," she said. "[Early into the pregnancy] I flew back to New York to get my checkup — and no heartbeat. Literally the week before I went to the doctor, everything was fine, but there was no heartbeat."

2013: Beyoncé and Jay-Z each release an album 

The two turned to focus on their music again, with releases from both Jay and Beyoncé. July 2013 saw Magna Carter Holy Grail, which featured the singer on the track "Part II (On the Run)." In December 2013, the Dreamgirls star released a self-titled album, which included the song "Drunk in Love" featuring Jay-Z. 

May 5, 2014: Beyoncé and Jay-Z attend the Met Gala 

While most Met Galas are reason for celebration, Jay-Z and Beyoncé would probably want most people to forget what reportedly happened in 2014. TMZ released footage of Beyoncé's sister, Solange Knowles, in an altercation with the entrepreneur over alleged cheating rumors.

The family later released a statement to the Associated Press: "There has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family. The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. At the end of the day, families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."

Being the queen that she is, Beyoncé referenced the "unfortunate incident" in her song "Flawless (Remix)." The lyrics go, "Of course sometimes shit go down when there's a billion dollars in an elevator."

Bey and Jay embarked on the On the Run tour amid rumors of a divorce. "They are trying to figure out a way to split without divorcing," a source told Page Six at the time. "This is a huge concert tour, and they've already gotten most of the money from the promoters upfront. Jay was outdoing Jay, and Bey was outdoing Bey. They made the classic mistake of thinking a child would change everything and help to rekindle the initial fire, and it didn't."

2016: Beyoncé shuts down Jay-Z divorce rumors

After Beyoncé released her sixth album, Lemonade, in April 2016, sleuths became obsessed with a few details that point to infidelity. 

"He only want me when I'm not there / He better call Becky with the good hair," she sings in the song "Sorry.' 

To quash any divorce rumors, Beyoncé gave her husband a sweet shoutout at the last show of The Formation World tour on October 7.

February 1, 2017: Beyoncé and Jay-Z are expecting twins

Beyoncé announced her second pregnancy on Instagram — and it was twins. 

She captioned the photo, "We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. — The Carters." 

June 13, 2017: Beyoncé and Jay-Z expand their brood

Rumi and Sir Carter were born on June 13, 2017. Later that month, Jay-Z released 4:44, which many saw as confirmation of his infidelity. "I apologize, our love was one for the ages, and I contained us," he raps. "And if my children knew, I don't even know what I would do / If they ain't look at me the same / I would prolly die with all the shame."

Jay-Z revealed that he experienced moments of difficulty in his marriage during an interview with T: The New York Times Style Magazine. He noted that both he and his wife use music as "therapy."

"So even with women, you gonna shut down emotionally, so you can't connect ... In my case, like, it's deep. And then all the things happen from there: infidelity," he said. "We were using our art almost like a therapy session. And we started making music together. And then the music she was making at that time was further along. So her album came out as opposed to the joint album that we were working on. Um, we still have a lot of that music. And this is what it became. There was never a point where it was like, 'I'm making this album.' I was right there the entire time."

February 10, 2019: Beyoncé and Jay-Z win a Grammy for Everything Is Love

Beyoncé and Jay-Z took home a Grammy for "Best Urban Contemporary Album" for their joint record, Everything Is Love, released in 2018.

July 14, 2019: Beyoncé and Jay-Z meet Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

That July, the Carters met the Royals — specifically, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry — at the premiere of The Lion King in London. Beyoncé lent her voice to the role of Nala.

In 2021, Queen Bey released Black Is King on Disney+, a visual album to accompany the music created for The Lion King. Jay-Z and the three Carter-Knowles children appeared in the film.

2021: Beyoncé and Jay-Z appear in a Tiffany & Co. campaign

The musical duo was featured in the 2021 "About Love" campaign with Tiffany & Co., featuring ads of Beyoncé covering "Moon River" and going on a date night with Jay-Z and their daughter, Blue Ivy, in a Breakfast at Tiffany's-inspired short film. Beyoncé became the fourth woman ever to wear the yellow Tiffany diamond.

March 27, 2022: Beyoncé and Jay-Z attend the Oscars

Beyoncé kicked off the 2022 Academy Awards with a satellite performance of her Oscar-nominated song "Be Alive" from a tennis court in Compton, California. She attended the award show with Jay-Z, and the two practically shut down the red carpet in their neon yellow gown and white and black tuxedo, respectively.

June 20, 2023: Beyoncé and Jay-Z enjoy Paris Fashion Week

Beyoncé released her seventh studio album, Renaissance, in June 2022 and embarked on a world tour in 2023 with Jay-Z by her side. In between shows, the couple enjoyed sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week and taking in the city of lights.