Christmas at the palace

Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima of Netherlands pose with their daughters - Princess Alexia, Princess Catharina-Amalia, and Princess Ariane - as the Dutch Royal family celebrates Christmas on Dec. 23, 2012, in Villa la Angostura, Argentina. Princess Maxima was born in Argentina.

Princess Alexia, left, Princess Catharina-Amalia, center, and Princess Ariane of Netherlands pose as the Dutch royal family celebrates Christmas on Dec. 23, 2012, in Villa la Angostura, Argentina.Their mother, Princess Maxima, was born in Argentina.

Dutch Queen Beatrix, center, and Prince Willem-Alexander attend the holiday Koninkrijksconcert (Kingdom Concert), in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Dec. 15, 2012. The concert is annually held on Dec. 15 to celebrate the relationship between Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and German Federal President Joachim Gauck attend a festive event in Duesseldorf, western Germany, on Dec. 16, 2012.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attend the gifts distribution at Monaco Red Cross Foundation on Dec. 14, 2012, in Monaco.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco look at the pageant and distribute gifts to the children of the Monaco Red Cross School on Dec. 14, 2012, in Monaco.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, kneels beside Scott Walters, 3, during a Christmas event at Clarence House in London on Dec. 12, 2012. During the event, children from respite homes were taken in taxis decorated as reindeer to the royal home, where they were given gift bags and helped to decorate the Christmas tree.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, speaks with London taxi drivers during a Christmas event at Clarence House in London on Dec. 12, 2012. During the event, children from respite homes were taken in taxis decorated as reindeer to a party at Clarence House, the official residence of the duchess and Prince Charles.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, poses with a decorated London taxi as she hosts a Children's Party for the Helen and Douglas House Hospice and the London Taxi Driver's Fund for Underprivileged Children, at Clarence House on Dec. 12, 2012, in London.

Lewis Whyld/Clarence House - WPA Pool/Getty Images

This image released on Dec. 14, 2012, by Clarence House shows the 2012 Christmas card of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

From left, actress Goldie Hawn, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and German publisher Friede Springer pose at the holiday charity gala "Ein Herz fuer Kinder" (A Heart for Children) on Dec. 15, 2012, in Berlin. The princess received the Golden Heart trophy for her work with children.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends the "Ein Herz fuer Kinder" charity gala on Dec. 15, 2012, in Berlin.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends the "Ein Herz fuer Kinder" charity gala on Dec. 15, 2012, in Berlin.

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Prince William's wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, promotes the Dutch edition of her book "Celebrate: A Year of British Festivities for Families and Friends" in a bookstore in Haarlem, Netherlands, on Dec. 11, 2012.

King Albert II of Belgium poses for photographers durint the recording of his yearly Christmas message and Best wishes in Brussels on Dec. 21, 2012.

Spanish Royal Household via Getty Images

A reproduction of "The Adoration of the Shepherds" from the collection of engravings preserved in the Royal Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is displayed on the royal Christmas card chosen by King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofia of Spain. The original work is attributed to Maeten van Heemskerck (1498-1574) as draftsman and Philippe Galle (1537-1612) as engraver.

A detail of the royal Christmas card is provided featuring a festive and seasonal message above the signatures of King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofia of Spain.

The portraits of Princesses Sofia, left, and Leonor of Spain, taken in August at the family residence, adorn the cover of the 2012 Christmas card chosen by Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain.

A detail of the Christmas card is provided featuring a festive and seasonal message above the signatures of Prince Felipe of Spain, Princess Letizia and their children, Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor.

Spain's King Juan Carlos delivers his traditional televised Christmas speech at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid on Dec. 24, 2012. King Juan Carlos called on Spaniards to unite against an economic crisis of previously unimagined intensity.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, help volunteers to pack Christmas hampers with locally grown produce during their visit to the Hollybush Estate in Bethnal Green on Dec. 18, 2012, in London. The prince and the duchess took part in pre-Christmas community events durinig their visit the former run-down East London housing estate, which has been transformed through gardening projects carried out by residents.

Princess Caroline of Hanover attends the opening of the Christmas village in Monaco, Dec. 5, 2012.

Princess Caroline of Hanover and her son, Andrea Casiraghi, attend the opening of the Christmas village in Monaco, Dec. 5, 2012.

157670110.jpg_use_tyhis_one.jpg — LIONEL CIRONNEAU/AFP/Getty Images

Princess Caroline of Hanover visits a stand during the opening of the Christmas village in Monaco, on Dec. 5, 2012.

Belgium's royal family attends the Christmas Celebration at Palais de Bruxelles on Dec. 19, 2012, in Brussels. From left are Princess Mathilde, Prince Philippe, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola, Princess Claire and Prince Laurent.

Princess Claire and Prince Laurent of Belgium attend the Christmas Celebration at Palais de Bruxelles on Dec. 19, 2012, in Brussels, Belgium.

Queen Paola, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attend the Christmas Celebration at Palais de Bruxelles on Dec. 19, 2012.

From left, Princess Mathilde, Prince Philippe, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola, Princess Claire and Prince Laurent of Belgium attend the Christmas Celebration at Palais de Bruxelles on Dec. 19, 2012.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene, distribute presents to children at the traditional Christmas tree viewing at the Monaco palace on Dec. 12, 2012.

Princess Charlene of Monaco distributes presents to children at the traditional Christmas tree viewing at the Monaco palace on Dec. 12, 2012.

Prince Albert II's wife, Princess Charlene of Monaco, smiles as she welcomes Monaco's children for the traditional Christmas tree viewing and present receiving session at Monaco palace, Dec. 12, 2012.

Prince Albert II, with his wife, Princess Charlene, pose for photographers as they host a Christmas tree viewing for Monaco's children at the Monaco Palace on Dec. 12, 2012.

Princess Charlene reacts as she welcomes Monaco's children for the traditional Christmas tree viewing and present receiving session at Monaco palace, Dec. 12, 2012.

Princess Charlene of Monaco distributes presents to children at the traditional Christmas tree viewing at the Monaco palace, Dec. 12, 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she holds flowers she was given after attending the British royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England, Dec. 25, 2012.

Princess Beatrice of York, left, and Princess Eugenie of York, second left, watch as Queen Elizabeth II reacts while a child talks after giving her flowers following the royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, on Dec. 25, 2012.

From left, Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Lady Louise Windsor; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence; and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attend the traditional Christmas Day church service on Dec. 25, 2012, in Sandringham, England.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attend the traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, on Dec. 25, 2012.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II records her Christmas message to the Commonwealth in 3D in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in central London on Dec. 7, 2012. Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to the London 2012 athletes in her annual Christmas message, saying they had inspired the world and drawn people in to the excitement and drama.

Japanese Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers as he celebrates his 79th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2012.

Members of the Japanese royal family listen as Japanese Emperor Akihito,center, speaks to well-wishers as he celebrates his 79th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2012. From left, Crown Princess Masako , Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito Empress Michiko, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.