In Royal Circles

The Spanish royal family -- Crown Prince Felipe, Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos -- receive foreign diplomats Jan. 24, 2007, at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Brussels

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt gives a speech at the Royal Palace on Jan. 24, 2007, in Brussels, Belgium.

Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe of Belgium arrive at the Royal Palace for a government reception on Jan. 24 , 2007, in Brussels, Belgium.

Queen Fabiola of Belgium attends a reception at the Royal Palace on Jan. 24 , 2007, in Brussels, Belgium.

King Albert II of Belgium, right, greets Elio Di Rupo, president of the Walloon Community, in the receiving line at a government reception at the Royal Palace on Jan. 24, 2007, in Brussels, Belgium.

Tokyo

Japan's Emperor Akihito, second left, and Empress Michiko, right, appear on the balcony to receive New Year's greetings from well wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Crown Prince Naruhito, left, and Crown Princess Masako are with them.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito smiles as he plays the viola during a photo session prior to a friendship concert with famous Asian artists in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2007. Naruhito performed Franz Schubert's Piano Quintet in A major Op. 111, D. 667 "The Trout" in the "Building Friendship Through Music 2007" concert to commemorate ties among China, South Korea and Japan.

In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese Imperial family pose for photos at emperor's residence in Tokyo. From left to right in back: Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Masako, Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Kiko holding Prince Hisahito in her arms. From left to right in front: Princess Mako, Princess Aiko and Princess Kako.

Jordan's Queen Rania, center, and her daughter Princess Iman, left, are dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos as they pose with Japan's first lady Akie Abe, back right, and students of Sodo Kimono Academy in Tokyo on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006. Queen Raniaan and King Abdullah II are in Japan on a three-day visit.

Amman

This is the New Year card of 2007 for the royal family of Jordan. On the left, King Abdullah II and his wife, Queen Rania, pose with their children, Princes Hussein, right, and Hashem, third from left, and Princesses Eman and Salma.

Queen Rania of Jordan, left, receives Petra's official candidacy certificate to the final leg of the "new seven wonders of the world" competition, from Bernard Webber, left, the founder of the Seven Wonders of the World Foundation in Petra, Jordan, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007. The foundation was created in the year 2001 by Swiss adventurer Bernard Webber under the motto "Our heritage is our future".

Katmandu

Nepal's King Gyanendra makes a public appearance during the Vasant Panchami festival at the Hanuman Dhoka palace in Katmandu, Nepal, on Tuesday, Jan, 23, 2007. The festival marks the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring.

London

The British government has refused Pakistan's request for the return of the fabled Kohinoor diamond, which it claims was taken during colonial times. The Kohinoor, or "mountain of light," diamond, was set in the Maltese Cross at the front of a crown made for Britain's late Queen Mother Elizabeth. Kept with the crown jewels in the Tower of London, the crown is seen on the Queen Mother's coffin in this 2002 file photo.

Photographers and camera crews wait for Kate Middleton to leave her Chelsea flat on her 25th birthday Jan. 9, 2007, in London. Middleton is the girlfriend of Britain's Prince William.

Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Britain's Prince William, leaves at her home in London on Monday, Jan. 8, 2007. Middleton celebrated her 25th birthday on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Britain's Prince William, arrives at her home in London on Monday, Jan. 8, 2007. Middleton, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Jan. 9, left the house again shortly afterwards.

Paris

Dutch Queen Beatrix, receives a bouquet of flowers on her arrival at the Netherlands Institute in Paris on Thursday Jan. 11, 2007. At left is Netherlands Institute director Rudi Wester, and in background is French culture minister Renaud Donnadieu de Vabres.

Queen Silvia of Sweden, left, and Queen Paola of Belgium, right, applaud Bernadette Chirac, the wife of French President Jacques Chirac, at a Paris conference in the Elysee Palace on missing and exploited children Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007.

Madrid

Crown Prince Felipe, Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain attend "Pascua Militar" Day on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

King Juan Carlos of Spain is saluted by the military at "Pascua Militar" Day on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Royal Palace in Madrid.