January 2008 Official Picture of the Month Poll

[Empress]

Welcome to the January 2008 Official Picture of the Month Poll!

The monthly official polls will highlight the official side of royalty as opposed to the informal side of royalty.

The monthly polls will consist of pictures that show a royal on official business.

• gala events such as the Nobel prize ceremonies, state visits, royal ceremonies such as the the Order of the Garter ceremony in Great Britain or the New Years gala for the Knights of the Order of the Elephant in Denmark, Opening of Parliament, coronations, enthronements.
• openings of public events, government buildings, hospitals, christening of ships, official charity work
• family celebrations (such as wedding, christening, or special days such as Victoria Day in Sweden or Queen's Day in the Netherlands, King Harald's 70th birthday) and the balcony shots that accompany them
• among many other official events

We hope by the end of the year to have some really stunning and regal Picture of the Month winners to compete in our 2007 Picture of the Year awards.

For more information on the 2008 Picture of the Month schedule and all we have planned for 2008, take a look at this thread.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future polls you can post them there or contact Empress, Lady Jennifer, or Mandy.

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, Jo of Palatine, TheTruth,

Brunei/Malaysia: Humera - Warren

Denmark: Dazzling, Jessrulz, GlitteringTiaras

Japan: Dragonsfire8, Vanesa

Jordan: Humera - Little_star

Luxembourg: suturegeisha - drimal

Monaco: Iceflower - Ianna, tbhrc

Morocco: Humera – Warren

Norway: Her_Majesty - KikkiB, carlota

Spain: Anna_R - crisiñaki

Sweden: ZandraRae, Gita, Furienna

The Netherlands: The Watcher, Marengo, Lucien

The pictures of this poll reflect the official royal events of January. The poll will be open for three weeks. It will close on March 3, 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.

[Empress]

A. Denmark

Picture Link
Source: Danish Royal Watchers (DRW)

Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik & the Crown Prince Couple receiving the Corps Diplomatique at the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen Jan 3, 2008.



B. Norway

Picture Link
Source: Kongehuset/Scanpix

Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway visits the opening of the water power project La Confluencia, January 24, 2008, in Tinguirirca, Chile, during his three-day official visit in Chile.



C. Great Britian
Picture Link
Source: Clarence House/Press Association

In this Clarence House handout picture, Prince William undertakes his first flight. The Prince, an Army Officer with the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, is in a 4-month attachment with the RAF Cranwell. The training is intended to get to grips with the Service's traditions and military role. While training, he will fly a propeller driven grob 115e Light Aircraft, known as the Tutor.



D. Spain

Picture Link
Source: Prisma

The whole Spanish Royal Family gathered together to receive dignataries and important people on the Spanish society to celebrate King Juan Carlos' 70th birthday.

Seen in the picture, from left to right: Infante Don Carlos, Princess Irene, Don Carlos Zurita, Infanta Margarita, Infanta Pilar, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Infanta Cristina, Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Infanta Elena, Princess Letizia and Prince Felipe.



E. Japan

Picture Link
Source: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images

Japanese Emperor Akihito (C), Empress Michiko (5th R) and members of the royal family greet new year well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 02 January 2008. Tens of thousands of people will visit the Imperial Palace to greet royal family for the New Year holiday.



F. The Netherlands

Picture Link
Source: ANP/Robin Utrecht


Princess Margriet of the Netherlands attends (with family and friends) the special Introdans ballet preformance to celebrate her 65th birthday.



G. Jordan/Morocco

Picture Link
Source: Laha Magazine

Queen Rania and Princess Lalla Salma arrive at an official dinner at the Marrakech Royal Palace on January 14, 2008. King Muhammad VI was hosting the reception in honour of King Abdullah II of Jordan and his spouse. The Jordanian couple was on a three-day official visit to Morocco.



H. Dubai
Picture Link
Source: Profimedia

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler and Prime Minister of Dubai, shows a falcon to US President George W. Bush during a visit to the Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum House on January 14, 2008. Bush was in the region to seek the support of his oil-rich Gulf Arab allies for his country’s policies in the Middle East.


I. Brunei
Picture Link
Source: Infoto

(L-R) Prince Abdul Malik, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and the Sultan of Brunei recite a prayer during the ceremony to mark the Islamic New Year (1429 Hijrah) at the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque.


J. Luxembourg

Picture Link
Source: Grand Ducal Court/Carlo Hommel

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg greets His Excellence Mr. Zeng Peiyang, the Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China.



K. Belgium

Picture Link
Source: ANP

Princess Astrid of Belgium sits inside the new Fiat 500 model 16 January 2008 during the official opening of the 86th edition of the European Motor Show in Brussels.

L. Monaco

Picture Link
Source: Corbis


Royal fun at the circus - Princess Stephanie,
President of the International Monte-Carlo
Circus Festival, her sister Princess Caroline of
Hanover with her daughters Princess Alexandra
of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi attend one
of the shows of the 32rd International Circus
Festival of Monte Carlo on January 19, 2008 in Monaco."

[Her_Majesty]

Don't forget to visit the Picture-of-the-year Poll as well, where you can vote for your favourite Picture 2007:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ear-15845.html

[Marengo]

Maybe it is just me but the vote boxes do not seem to have a letter in front of them as usual.

[Elspeth]

The November poll also didn't, but December did. Perhaps one of the PoM organisers can add them, because it's probably easier to make a correct vote that way.

[Empress]

I knew I forgot something.. Sorry. I'll go fix that now!

[Empress]

Hello everyone -

Please note that Monaco has been added. If someone who has voted for another photo wishes to change their vote in order to vote for Monaco, please let me know. This is only for people who have cast a vote.

Empress

[Her_Majesty]

The Poll is closed.

Picture of the Month - January 2008

1. Denmark
Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik & the Crown Prince Couple receiving the Corps Diplomatique at the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen Jan 3, 2008.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee19/euroyals/8534208d1.jpg

2. Britain
In this Clarence House handout picture, Prince William undertakes his first flight. The Prince, an Army Officer with the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, is in a 4-month attachment with the RAF Cranwell. The training is intended to get to grips with the Service's traditions and military role. While training, he will fly a propeller driven grob 115e Light Aircraft, known as the Tutor.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w302/BritPOM/Monthly%20Poll/aclasscelebs0024eg7.jpg

3. Jordan /Marocco
Queen Rania and Princess Lalla Salma arrive at an official dinner at the Marrakech Royal Palace on January 14, 2008. King Muhammad VI was hosting the reception in honour of King Abdullah II of Jordan and his spouse. The Jordanian couple was on a three-day official visit to Morocco.

http://i30.tinypic.com/bikqw2.jpg

Thanks for your votes!

[JessRulz]

Thank you to everyone who voted for the Danish picture this month!

[Warren]

D. Spain
Picture Link
Seen in the picture, from left to right: Infante Don Carlos, Princess Irene, Don Carlos Zurita, Infanta Margarita, Infanta Pilar, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Infanta Cristina, Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Infanta Elena, Princess Letizia and Prince Felipe.

I think the woman identified as Princess Irene is actually the Infante's wife, the Duchess of Calabria, neé Princess Anne of France.