July 2009 Official Picture of the Month Poll

[dazzling]

Welcome to the
August 2009 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 formal 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 2009 Picture of the Year awards.

The pictures in this poll reflect the official royal events of June. It will close on 30 August 2009. During this time, we ask that NO ONE STATE WHOM THEY'VE VOTED FOR so as not to influence other members as they make their choices. After the poll closes, you can discuss as much as you'd like about which image you voted for and why.

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, LadyLeana

Britain: TheTruth - jcbcode99

Brunei/Malaysia/Dubai/Morocco: Humera - Warren

Denmark: GlitteringTiaras - Jessrulz, Princess Robijn, Madame Royale

Greece: Rhapsodybrat - Odette

Japan: Dragonsfire8, Al_bina

Jordan: Humera - Little_star, salma

Luxembourg: Jessrulz - grim_lady, kyansaunt20

Monaco: Iceflower - radker18,

Norway: Her_Majesty - Kikkib, Maura724

Romania: Marsel -

Russia: Marsel -

Spain: Paty -

Sweden: Iceflower, HRH Kerry

The Netherlands: The Watcher, Marengo, Lucien

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future polls you can post them there or contact Dazzling or LadyK.

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.

Enjoy and have fun!
LadyK & Dazzling

[dazzling]

A.) Japan

Picture Link
Source: Don MacKinnon/AFP/Getty Images

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, visited Nikkei Place in Burnaby British Columbia, Canada July 13, 2009. They received flowers from 3 year old, Chika Murakami (left) and 6 year old Takuma Renovich. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are visiting Canada on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

B.) Sweden

Picture Link
Source: gettyimages

A tender moment shared with the crowd - Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her fiance Daniel Westling are photographed and congratulated during Victoria's 32nd birthday celebrations at Solliden on July 14, 2009 in Borgholm, Sweden.

C.) Norway

Picture Link
Source: Daylife/Reuters

Sweden's King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia and Norway's King Harald attended the 1000 year celebration of Lithuanias capital Vilnius on Monday July 6 2009.

D.) Denmark

Picture Link
Source: Belga

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark along with Foundation director Thorsten Sadowsky and Museum founder, Swedish Dr. Frederik Paulsen, attends the inauguration of the West Coast Art Museum, in Alkersum, on Foehr island, Germany. July 31,2009.

E.) Monaco

Picture Link
Source: gettyimages

A princely training - Prince Albert II of Monaco gets ready with Belgian Eddie Merckx after receiving a limited edition of ''Look 586 Monte Carlo" bicycle, which part of the price (7.990 euros) will be delivered to Prince Albert's association (A.S. Star for the Children) on July 3, 2009 in Monaco, on the eve of the start of the 96th edition of the Tour de France cycling race.

F.) Spain

Picture Link
Source: Reuters/Daylife

King Juan carlos and Queen Sofia attend the inauguration of Gran Telescopio Canarias or Grantacande the world's largest telescope, at Roque de los Muchochos observatory on La Palma island, in Spain's Canary Islands.

G.) Britian

Picture Link
Source: FoxNews

July 20, 2009: Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she is shown an orphaned cygnet during a swan upping census, the ancient ritual of her swans being counted, on the River Thames.

H.) The Netherlands

Picture Link
Source: 24ora.an

Princess Margriet arrives in Oranjestad to open the Kingdom Games at Aruba.

I.) Luxembourg

Picture Link
Source: Serge Waldbillig/Luxemburger Wort via Cour-grand Ducale

Grand Duke Henri (L) after presenting the White Jersey to Luxembourg cyclist Andy Schleck on July 26th, in Paris.

J.) Dubai

Picture Link
Source: gettyimages

Princess Haya applauds from the stands during the victory ceremony of the ROLEX Grand Prix of Aachen on July 5, 2009 in Aachen, Germany.

K.) Jordan

Picture Link
Source: Petra

Princess Raiyah attends the closing ceremony of the Arab Children Congress on July 12, 2009.

L.) Morocco

Picture Link
Source: MAP

King Muhammad VI and his son Crown Prince Moulay Hassan attend Throne Day festivities on July 30, 2009.



M.) Belgium

Picture Link
Source: Daylife

Philippe, Mathilde, Fabiola and her apple, National Day, Military Parade, Brussels (21 July)

[susan alicia]

easy choice for me

[royals-royce]

I think a particular picture is going to have an easy win!!

[Marsel]

All the pictures were really good and, as usual, highlighted some very interesting moments of the past month.

[RoyalistRiley]

The selection so good that I found it hard to choose ... again!

[Bonbon]

Very easy choice for me too but all of them are really good I love them all

[LadyK]

A photo for Belgium has been added to the poll. If you have already voted and now want to change your vote, please contact LadyK or dazzling.

LadyK, PoM Coordinator

[dazzling]

Poll is now closed

Congratulations to the winners

1. Sweden
2. Britian
3. Belgium

[Marsel]

Congratulations to Sweden!

There were some amazing pictures this month and, as usual, it was a pretty hard choice.
I couldn't decide between the picture of Victoria and Daniel and the picture of Queen Fabiola with an apple. I voted for the Belgian picture but it was a very hard choice.
The picture of Queen Elizabeth looking at the swan was amazing as well.

[susan alicia]

voted for Elizabeth smiling at the cygnet

[ANNIE_S]

I also voted for Fabiola´s apple
Congratulations to Sweden It was my second favourite, and it was hard to choose between them

[Her_Majesty]

I also really enjoyed the picture of Fabiola. It's just great to see the lovely Lady out and about with the rest of the family after all the worries about her.

[royals-royce]

Glad that Sweden won!!

It's a really good picture of Victoria Bernadotte and Daniel Westling.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Her_Majesty

I also really enjoyed the picture of Fabiola. It's just great to see the lovely Lady out and about with the rest of the family after all the worries about her.

I voted the same way. The Wilhelm Tell act of Fabiola made me laugh, and it shows that dispite of her health problems she didn't lose any of her vivacity and her sense of humour.

[iceflower]

CP Victoria is always good for a winner pic , thanks a lot
for all your votes and congratulations to all other teams for their
great choices!

[lumutqueen]

Congratulations to Sweden.

[Dierna23]

Congratulations to Sweden, its a wonderful picture. This, the one of Fabiola and HM smiling at the swan were my favourites this time.