In Royal Circles

The ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London is set up for a state dinner on Friday, July 25, 2008. For the first time ever, summer visitors to Buckingham Palace will be able to view how the room is set up when the queen entertains lavishly.

Tourists gather outside the gate sof Buckingham Palace in London. For the first time, those visiting the palace this summer will be able to view how the ballroom is set up for an official state banquet, when the queen entertains up to 170 guests, usually on the first evening of a state visit.

Flowers are set up on tables in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London on Friday, July 25, 2008, to give tourists an idea of how the room looks when it is set up for a state banquet.

Tables are configured in a U-shape as the ballroom at Buckingham Palace is set up for a state banquet on Friday, July 25, 2008. In order to fit in the tourists the great horseshoe table has been shortened, and set for 96 guests - most banquets are for 160.

A porcelain plate is displayed as palace staff sets up the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London for a state banquet on July 25, 2008. For the first time ever, summer visitors to the palace will be able to see what the ballroom looks like when a state dinner is held.

Workers at Buckingham Palace in London set crystal on the tables as they set up for a state banquet in London, Friday, July 25, 2008.

Finishing touches are completed as the ballroom at London's Buckingham Palace is staged for a state banquet, July 25, 2008. For the first time ever, summer visitors to the palace will be able to see what the room looks like just before a state dinner.

Not all parties take place in the ballroom. Here, Queen Elizabeth II entertains guests at during the last summer Garden Party of 2008 at Buckingham Palace, London, on July 22, 2008.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the last summer Garden Party of 2008 at Buckingham Palace, London. The queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall mingled with 8,000 guests in the palace garden.

Guests line up to greet the queen at the final summer Garden Party of 2008 at Buckingham Palace, London, on July 22, 2008.

Japan

Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan speaks before press at the Togu Palace, his residence in Tokyo, on Friday, July 11, 2008, ahead of his eight-day visit to Spain. Narihito will visit the European country to attend the Expo 2008 in Zaragoza.

Crown Princess Masako bids farewell to her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, at the entrance of Togu Palace in Tokyo Wednesday, July 16, 2008. The prince is making an official visit to Spain. The princess suffers from a stress-induced ailment, which has kept her from most of her official duties for several years.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, left, waves as he walks with Spain's Crown Prince Felipe. Felipe met Prince Naruhito at Barajas international airport in Madrid Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, left, and Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito review the honor guard after Felipe met Naruhito at Barajas international airport in Madrid Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, left, listens to Spain's King Juan Carlos before a dinner in his honor in the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid Thursday, July 17, 2008.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, right, chats with Spain's Queen Sofia before a dinner in his honor in the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid Thursday, July 17, 2008.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, right poses by a man dressed as Miguel de Cervantes's character Don Quixote in Consuegra, Spain, Saturday, July 17, 2008. Naruhito was on an eight-day visit to Spain.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, right, poses by a donkey and a man dressed as Miguel de Cervantes's character Sancho Panza from "Don Quixote" in Consuegra, Spain, Saturday, July 17, 2008.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, center, poses with Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia during a visit to an exposition of Joan Miro paintings at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid on Friday, July 18, 2008.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, center, poses with Spain's King Juan Carlos, second right, Queen Sofia, second left, Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia before a dinner in his honor in the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid on Thursday, July 17, 2008.