This year the Stockholm City Hall was decorated in red, the colour of love and romance. For the ninth consecutive year, Gunnar Kaj was in charge of the design. Around 10,000 flowers and 6,000 leaves were used, among them carnations, roses, hortensias, lilies, tulips and amaryllises.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Hans Mehlin

More than 30 chefs and 230 servers work to create and serve the banquet meal during the evening. Here, the potato terrines are being decorated.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Hans Mehlin

The dessert, Poire Belle Hélène 2008, is being prepared in the City Hall kitchen.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Hans Mehlin

Rows of tables decked with the exclusive Nobel tableware ready for guests to take their seats inside the Blue Hall at Stockholm City Hall.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

The Royal Family and other guests of honour make their entry down the stairs into the Blue Hall. His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is escorting Françoise Barré-Sinoussi. Photo taken at the Nobel Banquet on 10 December 2008.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is accompanied by Martin Chalfie, 2008 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

Paul Krugman arrives accompanied by Princess Madeleine of Sweden to the Nobel Banquet in the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall on 10 December 2008.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

Inside the Blue Hall at the Stockholm City Hall, guests begin to dine on the specially prepared menu for the banquet: sole with Swedish shellfish, fennel and dill; fillet of veal, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and potato terrine; and Poire Belle Hélène 2008 for dessert.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

Seated at the table of honour at the Nobel Banquet are (from left to right): Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Roger Tsien, Princess Madeleine and Laureate in Economic Sciences Paul Krugman.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

Crown Princess Victoria in conversation with Martin Chalfie at the table of honour.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

The musical interludes for the evening, 'Così Fan Tutte', was performed by Stockholm's Orion Theatre.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Hans Mehlin

Coffee and liqueurs are served.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Mia Åkermark

Florists, carpenters and some 20 students from the florist training programme worked to create the floral arrangements in the City Hall.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Hans Mehlin

After the magnificent dinner and marvellous entertainment, guests move to the Golden Hall for an evening of dancing.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Georgios Athanasiadis

From left to right: Princess Madeleine, Prince Carl Philip, Mrs Ethel-Michele de Villiers and Nobel Laureate Harald zur Hausen, Nobel Laureate Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Her Majesty Queen Silvia, Nobel Laureate Luc Montagnier and Crown Princess Victoria at the Nobel Banquet.

© The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Mia Åkermark

From left to right: Princess Madeleine, Prince Carl Philip, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, Her Majesty Queen Silvia, Mrs Jemia Le Clézio and Crown Princess Victoria at the Nobel Banquet on 10 December 2008.

The Nobel Foundation 2008. Photo: Mia Åkermark