Royal palaces of Europe: The residences of the reigning monarchs

The Swedish Royal Court today announced the long-awaited engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to her boyfriend of seven years, Daniel Westling. The couple's wedding sometime next year is likely to be a huge event and give a tremendous boost to the Swedish tourism industry. Ordinary folks who don't make the guest list can get a taste of royalty by visiting one of the palaces still used by Europe's 10 remaining active monarchies. Of the countless palaces and castles scattered around the continent, here are the places where reigning kings and queens still live and work:

Belgium

The official residence of the royal family is the Palace of Brussels, where King Albert II and Queen Paola have their offices and carry out state duties. Situated in the center of the city opposite the Parliament buildings, the Royal Palace is open to the public in the summer.

The royal family's permanent residence is at the Royal Castle of Laeken on the outskirts of Brussels. Here you can visit the Royal Greenhouses and the Royal Crypt, burial place of all reigning Belgian monarchs and numerous other members of the royal family.

Denmark

Queen Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, have several residences. In the winter, they live at Amalienborg, a complex of four palaces dating from the 1750s. The palace is open by guided tour July through September, and the Amalienborg Museum in Christian VIII's Palace is throughout the year.

In the spring and fall, the royal couple reside at Fredensborg Palace, where foreign heads of state are received and important royal celebrations take place. The palace and certain other reserved areas are open to the public in July. The extensive gardens, designed in the style of those at Versailles, are open year-round, free of charge.

During the summer, the Queen and Prince Consort live at either Marselisborg Palace or Gråsten Palace or on their royal yacht, Dannebrog.

Liechtenstein

Tiny Liechtenstein has one of the oldest royal families in Europe. Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie have four children, including Hereditary Prince Alois, who has taken over many of the sovereign powers of the principality, leaving his father free to manage the family's assets, including its extensive collection of art. The royal family lives in the Royal Palace in Vaduz, which is not open to the public.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a grand duchy, whose reigning royal couple is Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Since the 1890s, the Grand Ducal Palace in the heart of the city of Luxembourg has been the official residence of the grand dukes. Guided tours are available in the summer through the Luxembourg City Tourist Office.

Monaco

Europe's smallest country after the Vatican, the principality of Monaco clings fiercely to its sovereignty. The Grimaldi family have been recognized as Princes of Monaco since 1633. Dramatically situated on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, the Prince's Palace is the official residence of Prince Albert II and is open to visitors from June through October. The oldest parts of the palace date back to the late 12th century. Highlights include the Main Courtyard, the State Apartments, the Sainte-Marie Tower, the Throne Room, and the Salon Bleu.

Netherlands

Dutch Queen Beatrix has three residences, including the 17th-century Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, her residence since 1984 . Also in The Hague is Noordeinde Palace, the Queen's official place of work. Its oldest sections date back to at least 1533. Neither palace is open to the public, though visitors are welcome to stroll through the gardens at Noordeinde.

For state visits, official receptions, and other functions, the Queen uses the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square in the city center. Originally built in the mid-1600s as a city hall, it is currently closed to visitors due to major renovations but is scheduled to reopen in June of this year.

Norway

King Harald and Queen Sonja live and work at the Royal Palace in Oslo, inaugurated in 1849. The palace is open between June and August by guided tour, which includes many of the most important state rooms in the palace, such as the Council Chamber, the Hall of Mirrors, the Banqueting Hall, the Palace Chapel, and the King Haakon VII Suite.

The King and Queen lived at Skaug um Estate in Asker outside the city until 2001, when it was given as a wedding gift to Crown Prince Haakon and his bride, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who currently live there with their children. Skaugum Estate dates back to the Middle Ages, though the main house itself had to be rebuilt in 1932 after a fire.

Spain

The Royal Palace of Madrid, considered the official royal residence, is where the King carries out ceremonial duties. The current palace was built in the mid-1700s, though there was a fortress on the site as early as the ninth century. The palace is open daily. Points of interest include the Hall of Mirrors, the Gala Dining Room, the Painting Gallery, the Throne Room, and the Royal Armoury.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia reside in the Palace of La Zarzuela, part of the Royal Palace of El Pardo complex on the northern outskirts of Madrid. The palace and extensive grounds are open to the public year-round and can be reached by bus from downtown Madrid.

On the island of Mallorca, the Royal Palace of Almudaina is used during the summer for state ceremonies and receptions. Construction of the fortified castle began in 1281. It is open to the public all year.

Sweden

The massive baroque Royal Palace in Stockholm serves as the official residence and place of work for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. It was built in the early 18th century on the site of a medieval fortress that burned to the ground in 1697. You can learn about the original castle at Museum Tre Kronor in the northern wing of the palace, where remnants of the 13th-century walls still remain. Other sections of the palace, including the Royal Apartments, the Treasury, Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities, the Royal Chapel, and the Bernadotte Library, are also open to the public, most by guided tour.

If you're in Stockholm for more than a day, don't miss Drottningholm Palace, the permanent home of the royal family since 1981. Sweden's answer to Versailles, Drottningholm is located on an island in Lake Mälaren west of Stockholm and is easily reachable by boat or bus from the city. The palace and its associated buildings and parklands have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are open to the public daily May-September and on most weekends during the rest of the year.

The royal family's summer retreat is Solliden Palace on the island of Öland in southern Sweden. The grounds and Solliden Pavilion are open to the public from mid-May to mid-September.

United Kingdom

The most famous monarchy of them all, the British royal family still uses numerous royal residences. Its administrative headquarters is at Buckingham Palace, which has been the official London residence of British monarchs since 1837. Various parts of the palace are open to the public, including the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and the Queen's Gallery.

The largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle dates back more than 900 years. Queen Elizabeth II spends a significant amount of time in residence at Windsor, including many weekends, the month around Easter and a week in June. Many state visits and other events take place at Windsor. One of England's most popular tourist attractions, the castle is open daily except for certain holidays. Areas open to the public include the State Apartments, St. George's Chapel, the Albert Memorial Chapel, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, and the castle grounds.

The royal family spends Christmas and the early part of each year at Sandringham House, a Norfolk estate whose grounds and museum are open to visitors.

In Scotland, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have two residences, an official one, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, and a private retreat at Balmoral Castle. Holyroodhouse, including the Royal Apartments and the Queen's Gallery, is open daily during most of the year. Balmoral's grounds, gardens, and ballroom are open to visitors during the summer.