In Royal Circles

Malaysia's outgoing king, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, left, salutes as Queen Nur Zahirah, right, stands beside him during his official farewell ceremony at Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 12, 2011. Mizan Zainal Abidin, who was proclaimed Malaysia's 13th king on Dec. 13, 2006, for a five-year rotation period, completed his reign on Monday.

Malaysia

Malaysia's new King Sultan Abdul Halim, front left, and Queen Haminah stand on the red carpet during a welcoming ceremony at the Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 13, 2011. The 84-year-old sultan became the oldest constitutional monarch in this Southeast Asian nation's history.

Spain

From left, Spain's Princess Letizia, Crown Prince Felipe, Queen Sofia, and King Juan Carlos wait for the arrival of Spain's government members at the royal palace in Madrid on Dec. 13, 2011. The ministers were the lunch guests of Spain's royal family.

Spain

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, right, kisses the hand of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez after her swearing-in ceremony at the government house in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. Fernandez is starting a second four-year administration after being the first female politician to be re-elected in Latin America.

Spain

King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia of Spain attend a National Library Exhibition on December 13, 2011, in Madrid, Spain.

Spain

King Juan Carlos of Spain, center, checks a message on his mobile phone during day one of the final Davis Cup match between Spain and Argentina on Dec. 2, 2011, in Seville, Spain.

Spain

From left, King Juan Carlos celebrates with Spain's captain Albert Costa, players Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, holding the David Cup trophy after Spain won the final against Argentina at La Cartuja Olympic stadium in Seville, Spain, on Dec. 4, 2011.

Sweden

The 2011 Nobel Prize Laureate for Physics Professor Saul Perlmutter of the U.S., left, and Sweden's Queen Silvia smile for photographers at the start of the 2011 Nobel Prize Banquet at the Town Hall in Stockholm, on Dec. 10, 2011.

Norway

From left, Norwegian King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Crown Prince Hakkon attend the ceremony of Nobel Peace Prize winners at City Hall in Oslo, on Dec. 10, 2011.

United Kingdom

This picture of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, with bridesmaid Eliza Lopes, appears on their official 2011 Christmas card. Taken by the Press Association's John Stillwell, it shows them on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in London following the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on April 29, 2011.

United Kingdom

England cricketer Alastair Cook poses with his fiancee Alice Hunt and members of the Queen's bodyguard of Yeoman of the Guard after being made an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Dec. 6, 2011, in London, England.

United Kingdom

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, second right, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, right, greet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk of Bhutan in London, England.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra performs at St. James Palace, in central London, Dec. 12, 2011. Britain's Prince Charles attended the performance.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives at Liverpool Lime Street train station at the start of a day-long visit to Liverpool on Dec. 1, 2011.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Dedworth Medical Centre on Dec. 9, 2011, in Windsor, England. The new offices of a GP practice used by Windsor Castle staff were opened by the queen.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Captain Christopher Miorin of the U.S. Army Rifle drill team, after watching his team at the British Military Tournament at Earls Court in west London on Dec. 2, 2011.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II greets High Court judges as she officially opens the Rolls Building, the latest addition to the Royal Courts of Justice, on Dec. 7, 2011, in London, England.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II meets Yoko Ono in front of Chairman of National Museums Liverpool Phil Redmond during a visit to the Museum of Liverpool on Dec. 1, 2011.

Jordan

Queen Noor of Jordan, Woman of Compassion Honoree, speaks on stage the 2011 UNICEF Ball presented by Baccarat at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Dec. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles.

The Netherlands

Mali's President Amadou Toumani Toure is welcomed by Queen Beatrix at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Nov. 29, 2011. The president and his wife are on a official three-day visit to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrives on Nov. 25, 2011, for the celebration of the 50th Dies Natalis of the University of Twente.

Belgium

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's wife, Svetlana, speaks with Belgium's Queen Paola, right, who arrived in the Kremlin as an honnorary guest of the third international musical festival in Moscow, on Nov. 24, 2011.

Belgium

Queen Paola of Belgium arrives on Nov. 24, 2011, to attend the third international musical festival at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Monaco

German designer Karl Lagerfeld and Princess Caroline of Monaco pose with with the charity Award of the the association People in Europe (Menschen In Europa) on Dec. 12, 2011, in Passau, southern Germany.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend the Arbre de Noel 2011 For Monaco Children on Dec. 14, 2011, at the palace in Monaco.