King Willem-Alexanderand Queen Máxima of theNetherlands are hosting King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia ofSpain on their State Visit to The Netherlands on April 17th and 16th, which is the latest in a long series of meetings between the two Royal Families in recent decades.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on the afternoon of April 16th, and went straight to a Reception hosted for the Spanish community residing in the Netherlands at the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace Hotel, where King Felipe said
We have just landed. less than an hour ago and we arrived eager to comply with an extensive program carefully prepared by both parties and that will allow us to put emphasis and visibility on the excellent relations of friendship and intense ties that unite both nations; also contributing to its momentum”
The next morning, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima officially welcomed King Felipe and Queen Letizia (wearing Queen Sofia’s Emerald Earrings) outside the Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam, where, following a review of the Guard of Honour and meeting Spanish Students, there was a Reception and a Luncheon inside the Royal Palace.
In the afternoon, King Felipe and Queen Letizia laid a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square, before King Willem-Alexander and King Felipe attended a sports afternoon organized by the Cruyff Foundation and visited the port of Amsterdam and the Evos and Sunoco terminals.
In the evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima hosted a State Banquet in honour of King Felipe and Queen Letiziaat the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Both Kings gave speeches. The Princess of Orange, Princess Beatrix, and Princess Margriet were also present.
King Felipe wore the Order of the Netherlands Lion, while Queen Letiziawore Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara with Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings and the Grey Pearl Brooch from the Joyas de Pasar with the Order of the House of Orange.
King Willem-Alexander wore the Order of Charles III, while Queen Máxima wore the full Stuart Tiara and Stomacher with the Order of Charles III.
The Princess of Orange wore the Ruby Peaco*ck Tiara and Necklace with the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
Princess Beatrix wore the Dutch Diamond Bandeau with the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Princess Margriet wore the Laurel Wreath Tiara and her Diamond Earrings with the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
King Willem-Alexander and King Felipe visited a meeting for Spanish and Dutch companies in the cybersecurity and fintech sector in The Hague, before King Felipe visited the States General in The Hague.
Queen Máxima and Queen Letizia visited LAB6, a meeting place where activities from sports to culture are organized for and by young people between 12 and 23 years old in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Later, Queen Máxima and Queen Letizia attended the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival in the Royal Theater Tuschinski.
In the afternoon, King Willem-Alexander and King Felipe were received by Deputy Prime Minister Jetten at the Binnenhof before joining a dialogue with researchers from Clingendael and Elcano in The Hague, and visiting the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk.
In the evening, King Felipe and Queen Letizia (wearing Queen Sofia’s Omani Diamond Earrings)hosted a Return Reception in honour of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and the Princess of Orange at Museum STRAAT in Amsterdam. During the reception, the Royal Couples opened an exhibition of ten Spanish and Dutch muralists.
The entire extended Dutch Royal Family attended the Wedding of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in Athens in 1962.
In 1966, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia attended the Wedding of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, as well as the Wedding Ball in Amsterdam.
In 1980, Queen Juliana (wearing the Dutch Diamond Bandeau)and Prince Bernhardhosted King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (in the Spanish Floral Tiara) on their State Visit to the Netherlands, being joined by the soon-to-be Queen Beatrix (wearing Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara) just a month before the Abdication of Queen Juliana.
The next month, Infanta Pilar of Spain, duch*ess of Badajozrepresented the Spanish Royal Family at the Inauguration of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands in1980.
A few years later, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara) hosted Queen Beatrix (in the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara) and Prince Claus of The Netherlands on their State Visit to Spain in 1985, with Queen Beatrix becoming the first female to receive theOrder of the Golden Fleece.
Queen Beatrix (wearing the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara) and the Dutch Royal Family hostedKing Juan CarlosandQueen Sofia of Spain (in the Mellerio Shell Tiara)on their second State Visit to The Netherlands in 2001, which was the first State Banquet attended by the then Máxima Zorreguieta (wearing the Aquamarine Tiara).
The couple met in Spain, so naturally the Spanish Royal Family were led by Queen Sofia and the Prince of Asturias at the Wedding of King Willem-Alexander of theNetherlands in 2002, following a Ball at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
Two years later, Queen Beatrix was joined by the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima for the Wedding of Crown Prince Felipe and LetiziaOrtiz.
The Prince and Princess of Asturias represented Spain at the Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands in 2013.
Following their Accession, King Willem Alexanderand Queen Máxima made an introductory visit to Spain in September 2013.
Over a year later,King Felipeand Queen Letizia made an introductory State Visit to The Netherlands following the Accession of King Felipe VI of Spain earlier that year.
A few years later, King Felipeand Queen Letizia were back in The Netherlands to attend King Willem-Alexander 50th Birthday Dinner, being photographed leaving their Hotelin The Hague ahead of the Dinner inRoyal Mews for the Noordeinde Palace.
In the past few years, King Willem Alexanderand Queen Máxima have met King Felipeand Queen Letizia on numerous occasions, including the Order of the Garter Servicein 2019, the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito ofJapan, the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have already arrived in The Netherlands, holding a Reception for the Spanish Community in Amsterdam last night, ahead of the Official Ceremonies today.
