Happy Anniversary to the biggest boy band in the world! One Direction celebrated three years together as a group on July 23!

One Direction has sold millions of records, performed for thousands of screaming fans at countless sold-out arenas. Plus, the guys are getting ready to release their third album — and it has only been three years! The boys certainly have a lot to celebrate, and we’re taking a look back at the best three years ever!

One Direction Three Year Anniversary — Harry Styles & Fans Celebrate On Twitter

July 23 is a special day for One Direction and their fans alike. It’s so special, Harry Styles even tweeted about the occasion!

3 years.. I honestly can’t believe it. Thank you so much for everything, we’re so lucky to have you. You keep making it more and more fun.

It was on this day in 2010 that Simon Cowell formed the most beloved boy band in the world, after all five of them auditioned individually for the UK version of The X Factor. Even though they ended up placing third, it didn’t make a difference in their success afterward! Their first album, Up All Night, released in the US in March of 2012, even though it had already been available in the UK since November of 2011. Once it hit the US, it went straight to number one on the Billboard 200, making One Direction the first British group in US chart history to do so! The boys spent the summer of 2012 touring sold-out arenas on their first US tour, and during that tour, they announced round two for 2013, which sold out every date in minutes. As if 2012 wasn’t already eventful enough for them, they released their sophomore album, Take Me Home, in November of 2012, which went platinum in the US and double platinum in the UK. Take Me Home recorded the biggest first-week sales by a boy band since *NSYNC‘s Celebrity in 2001 — proof that they’re the biggest boy band in the world! No wonder they were voted MTV’s Artist of the Year in 2012!

One Direction Announces Tour, CD & Fragrance In 2013

While Take Me Home was still going strong with one hit single and video after another, the boys showed that they weren’t going to be settling down anytime soon. First, in February 2013, One Direction revealed that they will be releasing a 3D movie, This Is Us, in August, and the trailer made fans go nuts. Then, in May 2013, the boys held a press conference announcing a 2014 world-wide stadium tour and a new album to be released in late 2013. Liam Payne said at the conference, “We want to do this as long as we can. We can’t believe this is happening all at once, but we’re just going to go with it.” Amongst all of their success and excitement, they announced their very own fragrance, Our Moment, only a few weeks later in early June! So much 1D excitement in so little time! Despite alleged rumors that Harry might be going solo, Liam almost left the band, and Zayn might be quitting the band, the boys have proved that they will be continuing all of their success together as one happy British-Irish family!

One Direction Thanks Fans For Three Years On Twitter

In celebration of the past three years with One Direction, fans took to Twitter to thank and congratulate their favorite boys using the hashtag, #thankyou1D. While Harry tweeted his gratitude on his own account, the band thanked fans for the abundance of love and support.

#thankyou1DFamily for #thankyou1D :)

The boys’ Twitter account shows just how happy they are, but Zayn Malik also told Glamour they have loved the past three years and this is hopefully just the beginning.

Fingers crossed in 10 years’ time, we’ll still be here. If we fade out, then let it be and we had an amazing time. As long as we’ve had fun, no regrets, we’ve done our job.

But Zayn doesn’t need to worry about fading out — fans have made it clear they don’t want One Direction to go anywhere, and neither do we! Are YOU celebrating the three-year anniversary of One Direction, HollywoodLifers?

WATCH: One Direction’s ‘Best Song Ever’ 

– Taylor Weatherby

More One Direction News:

1. One Direction’s ‘Best Song Ever’ Is The Best Music Video Ever
2. One Direction Premieres New Video For ‘Best Song Ever’ — Watch
3. Zayn Malik Saves Harry Styles’ Hair From Fire In Concert — Watch