Picture of the Month: January 2006

[Alexandria]

As announced, here is the debut poll for the Pictures of the Year program.

As a review, here are your royal house representatives, who were responsible for choosing the one picture that would represent their respective royal houses this month -- a difficult task for many!

Belgium - mette2
British - princejohnny25
Brunei - ~*~Humera~*~
Danish - H.M. Margrethe
Dutch - The Watcher
Japan - mandyy
Jordan - ~*~Humera~*~
Luxembourg - suturegeisha
Monaco - tbhrc
Moroccan - ~*~Humera~*~
Norwegian - purple_platinum
Spain - mtbcm
Swedish - purple_platinum

Thanks again to tbhrc for this wonderful idea and for all of our representatives for their time and their conscientiousness in picking a special picture. If representatives did not submit a picture, while the appropriate forum mods will be asked to choose one themselves, we cannot guarantee that a royal house will get a picture in the poll. So make sure you contact your forum representative if you have a picture you feel strongly about.

As a new picture poll will be opened each month, polls will only last the duration of the month -- typically 30 days. So make sure you vote before the poll closes!

Happy January voting!

[Alexandria]

The poll above has been created in the order that the images were submitted to me -- so there is no personal preference!

Below are the corresponding images followed by, if applicable, notes about the image and notes of thanks to members who helped them to make their decision, by the forum representatives.

Japan

In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japan's Emperor Akihito, and Empress Michiko, pose with members of their royal family for a New Year photo at Imperial Palace in Tokyo Friday, Dec. 16, 2005. The photo was taken at the end of last year, but released only in January. From asahi.com.--mandyy

Denmark

The baptism of the Danish Lilleprinsen, now officially known as Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, christened on January 21 at Christianborg Palace Church in Copenhagen. --H.M. Margrethe

Luxembourg

Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg, Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria, Prince Felix of Luxembourg, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Archduke Christophe of Austria* and Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg around the birthday cake at Grand Duke Jean's 85th birthday celebrations on January 30. Photo by Carlo Sommel; from Seeger Press.--suturegeisha

Monaco

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco hugging his sister HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco at the 30th international circus Festival of Monte Carlo. January 21, 2006. Photo by Stephanie Cardinale; from Corbis.--tbhrc

Belgium

King Albert chats with EU Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso during the New Year reception for the representatives of the European Union at the royal palace in Brussels on January 25th. From belgapic.--Mette2

Norway

The picture is published on the occasion of Princess Ingrid Alexandra's 2nd Birthday. Here, the future queen hold a yellow rose with a cute look on her face. Photo by Jo Michael; from kongehuset.no.
Thanks to Larzen for helping to choose the picture.

--purple_platinum

Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria a la Marilyn Monroe, leaving Copenhagen's Christianborg Palace Church after the baptism of Prince Christian, for whom she is a godmother. From Abaca.
Thanks to Larzen and Lena for helping to choose the picture. --purple_platinum

[Alexandria]

Spain

Christening of Infanta Leonor, January 14th, 2006. In this picture there are three generations of the monarchy: King Juan Carlos, Prince Felipe and Infanta Leonor. From J.J Guillén/EFE --fanletizia

Great Britain

Prince William enters Sandhurst. It shows William taking the next step in his life with his father their to support him. Its the start of Williams journey from a boy to a man. January 8. Photo by Anwar Hussein; Getty Images --princejohnny25

The Netherlands

With Queen Beatrix recovering from surgery and a bout of pneumonia, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima arrive atNoordeninde Palace to host the traditional New Year's reception for foreign diplomats. From ANP. January 10. --Alexandria

Jordan

King Abdullah of Jordan and his son Prince Hashem celebrate their joint birthdays on January 30. This is Prince Hashem's first birthday while the King turns 44. From Alrai. --~*~Humera~*~

Brunei

HRH Princess Hjh Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah, daughter of HM Sultan Hassan al-Bolkiah of Brunei, gave birth to a son on January 14, 2006. HM the Sultan has named his grandson YAM Pg Anak Abdul Haseeb bin (son of) Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Shahibul Irshad Pg Anak Hj Abdul Rahim. From Infofoto Brunei. --~*~Humera~*~

[Humera]

This is so exciting!
I've cast my vote.
Cant wait to see everyone's comments and ofcourse to find out who will be this month's winner.

[Princejohnny25]

This is exiting. It is a wonderfull idea.

[crisiñaki]

Please people, vote for the spanish picture of the month, i've already did and we are currently loosing with Denmark, so please vote!!!

[Paula**]

Great Idea!!!
I've voted

[tbhrc]

You're right, this is really exciting.... I hope everyone enjoys these polls...

[norwegianne]

I do hope that people take the time to vote objectively - and consider all the pictures, and not just press on one of the buttons because they have to "support" their royal family...

The representatives gathering pictures has done a truly marvellous job, and I think it would only be fair to them to look over all the pictures before casting a vote.

[galuhcandrakirana]

The picture of Japannes Royal family is not very clear, I think its not fair to put this quality of photo to compete with others photos,the family of Japannes RF itself looks nice on he photo.

[Little_star]

Some of those pictures are very sweet! (Are we allowed to state which we voted for?)

[Juanita]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

Please people, vote for the spanish picture of the month, i've already did and we are currently loosing with Denmark, so please vote!!!

I already voted! And we were losing with Denmark and Norway!! :(
Again, please vote!!

[lilytornado]

Wow i love this! And I love those pictures!

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by galuhcandrakirana

The picture of Japannes Royal family is not very clear, I think its not fair to put this quality of photo to compete with others photos,the family of Japannes RF itself looks nice on he photo.

As we don't have official access to any photo agencies, we have to make do with whatever images we can find. Additionally, some royal families are covered more than others, and hence, more higher resolution and sharper images will be more readily available for some families than others.

I think that you can still understand and appreciate the image of the Imperial family even though it may not be a super sharp image.

[tbhrc]

Originally Posted by Little_star

Some of those pictures are very sweet! (Are we allowed to state which we voted for?)

I guess it's okay to say which one you voted for and esp. why you've chosen that one... :)

[Maxie]

It was a close tie between two Scandinavian pictures. I took the one which made me say 'Awh' the most...

[Lady Jennifer]

Awww I just have to say the babies (all the babies) are so cute.

[Princejohnny25]

Yea its pretty hard to say no to Ingrids cute face and you just want to take the rose she is giving you and hug her and kiss her and the danish one is so full of love and theirs a baby too. The babys allways win.

[Humera]

but the problem is we have so many babies this month!
hard to choose.

[Princejohnny25]

Yea I know and there all so cute, how is one to choose.