Palaces in the Snow - Rosenborg

Rosenborg Castle in Copenhan, stark and imposing against the winter snow

(photo By Leif Jørgensen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Roseborg Castle has plenty of royal history and carries an air of regal menace that is only slightly softened when the snow falls. Decked in flakes, it still looks as if its only place in a fairytale is as the home of a villain. It has majesty and mystery and covered in snow, it's a winter wonder.

Royal Countdown to Christmas: December 7th 2014

We're a whole week into December now and Christmas is just around the corner. To mark December 7th on Royal Christmas Countdown we turn to the first family of Denmark. Today's photo features Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Prince Henrik at the lighting of a Christmas tree - the royals also got the chance to meet Father Christmas. The image is from 2011.

Henrik and Santa say hello as Denmark's royals get in the festive spirit

The photo, along with all the others from the Royal Countdown to Christmas, features on a special page - just click the link above.

Royal Christmas Countdown: December 5th 2014

Five days into December, the weather is getting colder and Christmas is just around the corner. To get in the holiday spirit, every day there will be a new festive photo and today it's the turn of the Spanish royals. King Juan Carlos I gave his final Christmas Eve address as monarch in 2013 - although it would be almost six months before he revealed that he was abdicating his throne in favour of his son, now King Felipe VI. Juan Carlos talked about the economic problems facing Spain in some depth in his final festive address. Behind the king was the traditional backdrop of a crib scene. The Spanish monarch usually speaks to the nation on December 24th and this year, for the first time, that honour falls to Felipe.

King Juan Carlos speaks to the Spanish people in what would be his final Christmas address on December 24th 2013

You can see the full address as well as the other images from the festive advent calendar at the special Royal Christmas Countdown page.

Royal Countdown to Christmas 2014: December 4th

Christmas is getting closer and to get into the festive spirit there will be a new royal sparkly photo every day until Christmas Eve. Today it's the turn of Norway's Royal Family to get the holiday started. The image is from their official Christmas photos of 2013.

And all the Christmas images from 2013, along with all the other photos from the Royal Countdown to Christmas 2014 can be found on the special page - just click the link above.

Royal Christmas Countdown: December 3rd 2014

To mark the arrival of December 3rd, it's the first glimpse of a Christmas speech on the Royal Countdown to the festive season. King Philippe of the Belgians made his first Christmas address on December 24th 2013 when he thanked everyone for the warm welcome he and his queen, Mathilde, had been given since his accession to the throne in July that year. He also talked about the many difficulties facing Belgium at the time and the importance of building relationships within the community.

The full speech, along with the other images from the Royal Countdown to Christmas 2014 can be found on the special page - just click the link above.

Royal Countdown to Christmas: December 1st

The countdown to Christmas is underway and opening the doors on an Advent Calendar is all part of the tradition. Every day from now until Christmas Eve there will be a new royal festive photo on the site to mark off the days until December 25th. We start with the Queen and her family on Christmas Day at Sandringham last year. Happy Royal Countdown to Christmas.

December 1st: The Queen

And all the photos - and more - can be seen on a special Royal Countdown to Christmas page.