In Royal Circles

Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja, seated at center, pose with other members of the royal family for a holiday photo at the Royal Palace in Oslo Dec. 20, 2006. From left are Princess Martha Louise with her children Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora; Marius Hoeiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit; Crown Prince Haakon with daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra; and Crown Princess Mette-Marit with son Prince Sverre Magnus.

Nobel Ceremonies

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden attends the Nobel Foundation Prize 2006 at the Concert Hall on Dec. 10, 2006, in Stockholm.

Swedish Princess Lilian, left, and Prince Carl Philip arrive for the Nobel dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Monday, Dec. 11, 2006.

Christmas Address

Spanish King Juan Carlos I makes his traditional TV Christmas speech in Madrid, Dec. 24, 2006.

Christmas Concert

The Belgian Royal Family poses in front of a christmas tree at a photo session for the Christmas concert in the Brussels Palace on Dec. 20, 2006, in Brussels, Belgium.

Prince Laurent, Princess Claire, Princess Mathilde, Prince Philippe, Queen Paola, King Albert, Queen Fabiola, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorentz are in the front row at the Christmas concert at the Brussels Palace on Dec. 20, 2006 in Brussels, Belgium.

Princess Claire and Princess Louise are photographed at the Christmas concert at the Brussels Palace on Dec. 20, 2006, in Brussels, Belgium.

Christmas Party

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Stephanie of Monaco pose with Santa Claus and Monegasque children in the Monaco Palace during the annual Christmas Tree Party on Dec. 20, 2006.

Prince Albert II of Monaco poses with Santa Claus and Monegasques children in front of a decorated tree outside of the palace during the annual Christmas Tree Party on Dec. 20, 2006.

Prince Albert of Monaco helps Santa distribute Christmas presents to Monegasque children during the Christmas Tree Party in the Monaco Palace on Dec. 20, 2006.

Christmas Services

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church, King's Lynn, on Dec. 25, 2006, in Norfolk, England.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, is given flowers by young children after attending the traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene church on the royal family's Sandringham estate, in eastern England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

Britain's Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, left, stands with Princess Beatrice, center, the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, as Prince Charles looks on at St. Mary Magdalene church on the royal family's Sandringham estate. Members of the British royal family were arriving for the traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

Britain's Prince William speaks to members of the public after attending the traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate, in eastern England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

Princesses Beatrice, left, and Eugenie, the granddaughters of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, arrive at St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate as members of the British Royal family attend the traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006. The princesses are the daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson.

Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, gestures as she leaves the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church, King's Lynn, on Dec. 25, 2006, in Norfolk, England. She is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Britain's Prince Charles, left, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive at St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham royal estate as members of the British royal family attend the traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

Emperor's Birthday

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko greet the well-wishers gathered to celebrate his birthday at the Imperial Palace Dec. 23, 2006, in Tokyo. The Emperor turned 73.

Kuala Lampur Farewell

Malaysian King Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and Queen Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid are greeted by the foreign countries' ambassadors during his official farewell ceremony at the Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. King Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, who was proclaimed the 12th Malaysia king on April 25, 2002, for a five-year rotation period, completed his reign that day.

Visit To Japan

Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania arrive at the Tokyo International Airport on Dec. 20, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan. The royal couple is visiting Japan for three days.