2008 Official Portrait Poll

[Empress]

Welcome to the first Official Portrait Poll.

This poll is meant to showcase some of the more formal yet fun sides of the Royal Families, and to give us a chance to see portraits that we would not normally see in our monthly polls.

We hope that you enjoy looking at all of these wonderful portraits as much as we have enjoyed putting this poll together.

This month, our Picture of the Month representatives had help in selecting their images with a small committee of their choosing. Below, you can see each royal house's representative (in bold) followed by their chosen committee members.


Belgium: - Marengo, stephanievl, Johann

Britain: Avalon - milla Ca, TheTruth, Jo of Palatine

Brunei/Malaysia: Humera - Warren

Denmark: Dazzling, Jessrulz, GlitteringTiaras

Japan: Dragonsfire8, Vanesa

Jordan: Humera - Little_star - Salma

Luxembourg: suturegeisha - drimal

Monaco: Iceflower - Ianna, tbhrc

Morocco: Humera – Warren

Norway: Her_Majesty - KikkiB, carlota

Spain: LaChicaMadrilena - Anna_R, crisiñaki

Sweden: ZandraRae, Gita, Furienna

The Netherlands: The Watcher, Marengo, Lucien

The pictures of this poll reflect the official royal events of December. The poll will be open for three weeks. It will close on February 16, 2008. During these three weeks, we ask that no one state whom they've voted for so as not to influence other members as they make their choices. For the final week of the month, you can discuss as much as you'd like about which image you voted for and why.

Please note that the links in the above poll have been posted in the order in which they were received and do not reflect the opinions of the moderating team.


A Special thank you to the following members who have found and submitted photos for the countries listed below:

Anna_R - Brazil, Mexico
Dazzling - Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
GlitteringTiaras - Germany, Hawai'i, German Princely Families
TheTruth - France, Russia, Yugoslavia
Her_Majesty - Greece
Little_Star- Iraq, India
Humera- Afghanistan, Malaysia



Please give them all a big hand, and a big thank you for taking time out of their day to search for these wonderful photos!

[Empress]

A. Denmark

Picture Link
Source: Polfoto

A very regal Queen Margrethe looking towards the future of Denmark.


B. Brunei

Picture Link
Source: Inofoto

Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and his new bride Sarah Salleh are pictured at a royal banquet in honour of their marriage on September 10, 2004.


C. Dubai
Picture Link
Source: Petra

Formal portrait of Princess Haya released in early 2007.


D. Jordan
Picture Link
Source:

Queen Noor shares an intimate moment with her husband King Hussein.


E. Morocco
Picture Link
Source: scanned from Paris Match

Princess Lalla Salma in a portrait for Paris Match, November 2005.


F. Iran
Picture Link
Source:

A formal portrait of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran and his wife Queen Farah Diba graces the cover of Paris Match in October 1961. Farah wears a stunning diamond and emerald parure.


G. Egypt
Picture Link
Source:

Princess Fawzia, daughter of King Fuad I, in a stunning black and white portrait from the 1940s. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women of the 20th century, (Cecil Beaton called her the “Asian Venus”) Fawzia married Crown Prince Muhammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran in 1939 and gave birth to his eldest child, Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi. The couple officially divorced in 1948. Princess Fawzia eventually remarried and had two more children. She resides in Egypt.


H. Norway
Picture Link
Source: Scanpix

Common Crown Princess: Crown Princess Sonja (former Haraldsen) during one of her first official Galaportraits as Norway's Crown Princess. The photo was taken in 1969; a few months after the wedding with Crown Prince Harald.


I. Belgium
Picture Link
Source:

Queen Astrid of the Belgians, born Princess of Sweden, wearing the diademe of the nine provinces.


J. Monaco
Picture Link
Source: Hola

Portrait of the Princely Family of Monaco in 1965: Princess Grace, Prince Rainier, Princess Caroline and Prince Albert of Monaco pose with newborn
Princess Stephanie at the Palace in Monaco.


K. The Netherlands
Picture Link
Source: Geheugen van Nederland

7 January 1937, Princess Juliana of The Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld married in The Hague. The civil ceremony was held in The Hague Town Hall and the marriage was blessed in the Great Church


L. Spain
Picture Link
Source:

After the 2005 photoshop fiasco, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia sat for a portrait with all of their grandchildren and made it their Christmas Card for the Holidays of 2007/2008

[Empress]

M. Japan
Picture Link
Source: Imperial Household Agency



N. Russia
Picture Link
Source: Corbis




O. France
Picture Link
Source: Corbis


P. Sweden
Picture Link
Source: Royalty of the World, Tibor Celler

An avid reader and devoted archeologist, then Crown Prince Gustav VI Adolf with his wife, Margaret of Connaught and children.


Q. Greece
Picture Link
Source: Royal House of Greece

Official Portrait of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, taken in the 1960's.



R. Hawai'i
Picture Link
Source:Iolani Palace archives

The image is of Queen Lili‘uokalani the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. She reigned from 1891 to 1893 after the death of her brother, King Kalākaua




S. Germany
Picture Link
Source:

Kaiser Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany -- German Reich/Empire -- with his six sons marching through Berlin on New Year's day 1913


T. Italy
Picture Link
Source: bordighera.it

Margherita of Savoia-Genova Queen of Italy, taken in 1878.


U. Austria
Picture Link
Source: Portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter ; Date - 1865

While Elisabeth's role and influence on Austro-Hungarian politics should not be overestimated, she has undoubtedly become a 20th century icon. The Empress was considered to be a free spirit who abhorred conventional court protocol. Her l\tragic life has inspired filmmakers and theatrical producers alike.

Elizabeth loved Hungary far more than Austria and surrounded herself with Hungarian ladies-in-waiting, insisted that her attendants speak Hungarian, which she herself spoke fluently. Elisabeth's attachment to Hungary benefitted the Empire because the Hungarian people returned the attachment. They considered her the only Habsburg they trusted.



V. Albania
Picture Link
Source: Photograph of Queen Geraldine from the cover of “Geraldine of the Albanians, the official biography” by Gwen Robyns ; Date – 1939

King Zog fall in love with Countess Geraldine even before meeting her: he saw her photograph and asked his sister to introduce him to Geraldine. Within a few days, Zog and Geraldine were engaged. At her new homeland Geraldine was called the "White Rose of Hungary".

However ess then a year after their marriage, the family had to flee into exile. When in 1961 her son Leka was proclaimed king of the Albanians by the royalist government in exile, she preferred to be known as the Queen Mother of Albania. Until her death day, Geraldine maintained Leka was the legitimate king of the Albanians.
Queen Geraldine died at the age of 87 in Tirana. Her grandson posthumously accepted a medal from the Albanian government on behalf of her charitable efforts on behalf of the people of Albania.



W. Romania
Picture Link
Source: Hearst Magazine ; Date - 1930's

Born in England to the Duke of Edinburgh and Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, Marie married Crown Prince Ferdinant of Romania and became a true Romanian Patriot. Her influence in the country was large and people said it was not the King but Marie who rules. During World War I, she was the major influence in bringing her country to the side of Allies. Marie volunteered as a Red Cross nurse to help the sick and wounded and wrote a book to raise funds for the Red Cross, but these were by no means her most notable contributions to the war effort. After the war ended, the Romanian objective was to regain its territories. With the Romanian delegation losing ground in the negotiations, Marie famously declared that "Romania needs a face, and I will be that face". The arrival of the so-called Soldier Queen was an international media sensation and she argued passionately for the Romanian cause. As a direct result of her charismatic intervention, Romania won back the initiative and successfully achieved all its pre-conference aims, expanding its territory by 40%. Marie is remembered in Romania as a national hero, who brought victory and union into the country.



X. Britian
Picture Link
Source: Cecil Beaton/Camera Press ; Date - 1968

Cecil Beaton was never known as a highly skilled technical photographer, and instead focused on staging a compelling model or scene and looking for the perfect shutter-release moment.

He mastered that perfectly in this portrait of the Queen, which caught the essense of not only the ever regal Queen Elizabeth, but also Elizabeth the woman.



Y. Yugoslavia
Picture Link
Source: http://www.royalfamily.org/

Queen Marija, Queen Consort of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.



Z. Iraq
Picture Link
Source: http://64.182.92.70/gallery/album03/aab

Queen Alia, Consort of King Ghazi, mother of King Faisal II, sister of Crown Prince Abdullah and daughter of King Ali of Hijaz. Queen Alia, the consort of King Ghazi poses for a portrait, the date is unknown. King Ghazi ruled in Iraq from September 1933 to April 1939

[Empress]

AA. India
Picture Link
Source: http://smaramra.blogspot.com/2007/12...-of-queen.html

The Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, posing for a portrait in her youth. The Maharani is widely admired as a successful politician.


BB. Bahrain
Picture Link
Source: flickr

King Hamad bin Issa posing with his falcon in Bahrain


CC. Qatar
Picture Link
Source: Amiri Diwan, Doha, Qatar

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad posing with his Arabian Horse at in Doha, Qatar



DD. Saudi Arabia
Picture Link
Source: Wikipedia

The King with his family.


EE. Afghanistan
Picture Link
Source: Corbis

Queen Soraya (November 1899 – April 1968), wife of King Amanullah Khan in a formal portrait from the 1920s.


FF. Malaysia
Picture Link
Source: Bernama

May 18, 2007 - Zara Salim Davidson, the new Crown Princess of the Malaysian state of Perak is the picture of regal elegance on the day she is bestowed the royal title of Raja Puan Besar. Zara holds a degree in chemical engineering and is the great-granddaughter of the 24th Sultan of Kedah (also a Malaysian state). She married Crown Prince Dr. Nazrin Shah of Perak on May 17, 2007.

[Empress]

GG. Brazil
Picture Link
Source: Imperial e Real

Princess Isabel of Orleans e Bragança, Comtesse of Paris



HH. Mexico
Picture Link
Source: Official site of the Mexican Royal house

Don Augustin


II. Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
Picture Link
Source: Brigitte Gastel from Worldroots.com

Princess Benedikte and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein=Berleburg


JJ. Liechtenstein
Picture Link
Source: Brigitte Gastel from Worldroots.com

Prince Franz-Josef II von und zu Liechtenstein and family


KK. Bavaria
Picture Link
Source:

King Ludwig III the last king of Bavaria along with Maria Therese, and Franz Ferdinand in 1913.

[Turkish Delight]

WOW!!!
Really great work!!
{removed which picture they thought was the best- Lady Jennifer}

[LadyK]

Bravo to the Picture of the Month commitees, volunteers, and coordinators for this month's extensive and wonderful poll!

There are so many wonderful pictures in the list, and many that I'm not familiar with...such a hard choice! But there was one that I just loved.


BTW, did anyone else notice how several of the royal women in the older pictures look like old Hollywood movie stars?

[RhapsodyBrat]

there are other photos that do not have captions. i was hoping i could help?

our job as voters suddenly got harder with all the wonderful photos here.

btw, the link for Yugoslavia's photo doesn't work.

[Princess_Beatrix]

Great work! I am impressed! :w00t2:

How should one decide just to pick one picture?
This is hard.

I will not say who I voted for, but the portraits that were taken in the past were so much beautifuler then todays! They looked so nobel.

I love the amazing portrait of Sissi!http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/Tais419/3-7.jpg

and how beautiful was Sonja of Norway?! ImageShack - Hosting :: 21413spb56eb512257lohu9.jpg

Princess Fawzia I never saw before, but she is also gorgeous!http://i30.tinypic.com/2czc1hd.jpg
She looked like Liz Taylor a bit.

I cannot decide.

[Lady Jennifer]

Originally Posted by RhapsodyBrat

btw, the link for Yugoslavia's photo doesn't work.

Did you click on the one that said Picture Link in the post? Or were you going by the one that is in the actual poll? Both links worked for me RhapsodyBrat.

[queenofcelts]

Tremendous job! Wow!

[Little_star]

Wow! Great photos everyone!

There are so many wonderful photos to choose from!

[sgl]

Anne Marie of Greece was so lovely as a young woman. The Cecil Beaton portrait of Queen Elizabeth is great.

[May G.]

The pictures are all very nice , thank you
But the link for Spain's photo doesn't work!

[Elspeth]

It's working for me. Is anyone else having problems with it?

[LadyK]

They're all working for me. With Spain's picture, since it's larger and high-res, it takes a few seconds to load. If you are using dial-up, or any slow connection, it may take a few minutes.
With Yugoslavia, make sure you are clicking on the country's name, and not the image source beneath it.

[dazzling]

Tons of lovelt photos! Very difficult choice for this poll. Its also makes it difficult with all the new houses that are in. Very nice to see new ones for a change.

[dalia]

Thank you for all your efforts, not only the pictures were great, but you were great too! It took me some time to make up my mind and pick a picture to vote for. Great job, thank you.

[Czarina]

Wow... amazing! How nice to have such a range both in geography and timeframe of so many royal families. Well done!

[ZandraRae]

I love the collection of portraits! It was hard choosing one.