The King of The Netherlands made Knight of the Garter

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed His Majesty The King of The Netherlands a Stranger Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG).

Her Majesty awarded the King the highest honour of the United Kingdom as part of the State Visit that His Majesty and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are currently undertaking in the UK.

The King’s mother HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands former Queen of The Netherlands also holds the honour of Stranger Knight which she received in 1989.

UK State Visit for The King and Queen of the Netherlands

Her Majesty the Queen will host a state visit for Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Netherlands from 23rd to 24th October 2018. The King and Queen of the Netherlands will stay at Buckingham Palace. The visits itinerary is expected at a future date.

HRH Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau (1968-2013)

Today HRH Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David Prince of Orange-Nassau brother to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands sadly passed away.

The Prince had been in a coma since 17th February 2012 when he was in an avalanche that had buried him causing significant brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

After initial treatment in Austria he was sent to Wellington Hospital in London and on the 9th July 2013 he was moved to Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Netherlands were passed away following compactions.

My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Dutch King to Tour his Kingdom

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will tour all the provinces of the Netherlands in May and June and In November they will tour the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

Tour Dates outlined below:
28 May - Groningen / Drenthe
30 May - Gelderland / Utrecht
12 June - Limburg / North Brabant
14 June - Friesland / North Holland
19 June - Flevoland / Overijssel
21 June - Zeeland / South Holland

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to Abdicate

In an address to the nation Queen Beatrix announced she is abdicating the Dutch Throne in favour of her son Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange. The Act of Abdication will be signed on the 30th of April 2013. Prince Willem-Alexander will become the first male Monarch in a 123 Years. Prince Willem-Alexander’s Daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia will become the first Princess of Orange in her own right and one day will inherit the Throne herself. The idea of Dutch Monarchs abdicating is not a new one both Queen Beatrix’s Mother Queen Juliana and Grandmother Queen Wilhelmina abdicated so their heirs could inherit the throne.