A gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam closed the first day of Kings Felipe and Letizia to the Netherlands, where they are making a state trip between April 17 and 18, the first high-level trip they have made to this territory since the proclamation of the Spanish monarch ten years ago. Kings William and Máxima, accompanied by Princess Amalia, who is making her debut in an event of this nature and arrived at the beginning of the afternoon in the palace grounds to prepare, will serve as guests at this evening which involves a parade of tiaras and impressive jewelry.
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They also trained part of the state banquet Princess Beatrice and her younger sister, Margaret of the Netherlands, who joined the picture for the remembrance they made just before the start of the event, in one of the impressive rooms of the Palace. The previous monarch, who reigned from April 30, 1980 until her abdication on April 30, 2013, She served as hostess to Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia for the last time in 2001.date on which the parents of Felipe VI made their second visit to Holland.
Queen Letizia, in a cobalt dress The 2nd Skin Co, opted for one of the most incredible jewels in her collection, the Russian tiara, a Cartier piece made in platinum, pearls and diamonds forming inverted tears. It owes its design to traditional Russian headdresses, kokoshnik, hence its name. It belonged to Queen María Cristina, who used it for the first time in 1906. After her death, it was inherited by her son, King Alfonso XIII, who, in turn, and on the occasion of the marriage of his son, Don Juan, with Doña María de las Mercedes, future counts of Barcelona, gave it to his daughter-in-law in 1935. The wife of Felipe VI He wore it for the first time in November 2018,In a gala dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During the hand kiss that took place before dinner, Queen Letizia greeted him sitting on a stool. ¿The reason? She suffers from a condition called Morton’s neuroma which causes uncomfortable pain in her feet and wearing heels makes it worse, according to EFE. Apparently the gala dinner he attended in November in Denmark subsequently caused him several days of discomfort and that is why on this occasion he preferred to ask for a seat to accommodate the approximately 240 guests, among whom was Esther Alcocer Koplowitz, Marchioness. of Casa Peñalver.
–Queen Letizia, fabulous with her gala look in Amsterdam: a new Spanish dress and the Russian tiara
-The Queen of the Netherlands dazzled at the banquet in honor of the kings of Spain with a design created by one of her favorite Dutch couturiers
Queen Maxima, an exceptional hostess, wore one of the least seen tiaras of the House of Orange, that of the Stuarts, which her mother-in-law never wore during her reign. It is also the most precious jewel in the collection of the Dutch royal family. Crowned with a removable and re-enhanceable diamond weighing almost 40 carats, it dates back to 1690, when William III gave it to his wife, Mary Stuart.
Princess Amalia, who grabbed the attention, wore a flowing dress with a navy blue cape. On the dress, a yellow and white band with the large cross of the Order of Isabel the Catholic, a decoration granted to her by Felipe VI. The Princess of Orange first wore the magnificent peacock tiara (with matching necklace), which dates from 1897 and which disappeared for almost three decades (it is called the lost jewel) until the Queen Máxima uses it again in 2009.
-Princess Amalia debuts her own style rules: flowing cape and her favorite ruby tiara
Your words of love with references to the April Fair and menu details
When the clock struck 8:34 p.m. and the guests were already ready, including Princess Amalia, Princess Beatrice and Princess Margaret, seated at another table attached to the central table, the kings entered the banquet hall, decorated with superb floral arrangements and candles. Máxima of the Netherlands, Felipe VI, William of the Netherlands and Queen Letizia, seated in that order, They occupied the presidential table, from where speeches were delivered just before the dinner began.
The first to speak was the host, King William, who gave a speech of about five minutes in which he recalled that his love story with Queen Máxima began precisely in our country, during the April Fair, 25 years ago now. He also confirmed that his eldest daughter lives in Madrid and is grateful to him.: “Last year, circumstances forced her to live for a while in Madrid. From there she was able to continue her studies at the University of Amsterdam”. Additionally, he said four phrases in Spanish: “special connection”, “the Spanish sun”, “thank you” and “Long live Spain!”
At the end of the speech, a toast was given and the Spanish anthem was played, preceding the intervention of Felipe VI, which began at 8:43 p.m. and lasted eleven minutes during which he highlighted the union between the two families. “Our families are really very close and share so many moments of recent history, both personal and more official. He also spoke about the future of the two monarchies thanks to their respective heirs: “Our parliamentary monarchies move forward together towards this. future, by the hand of two young women of her generation, Princess Amalia and Princess Leonor, deeply committed to their nation and their people“. At the end, King William placed a hand on her shoulder in gratitude for her loving words.
Preparations for this dinner began two months ago, when Palace chefs designed two menus which they presented to guests. Kings Guillermo and Máxima, who were personally responsible for selecting the final dishes: crab cocktail with asparagus, parmesan mousse and lobster vinaigrette; tomato broth, basil gnocchi and oxtail; lamb fillet with herbs; pan-fried polenta with eggplant and roasted vegetables; for dessert, caramel tartlet with crunchy cream and chocolate syrup. In addition, the sommeliers chose wines from the royal estate. The dishes were served on Blossom Panache tableware, with the King’s monogram engraved in gold and on the reverse the phrase “steadfast in turbulent seas”.
The excellent harmony between the two Royal Houses
The words and gestures of the banquet, added to those shared by Felipe VI and Doña Letizia with William and Máxima of the Netherlands since the welcome ceremony celebrated in the morning in Dam Square, reflect “the excellent relations of friendship and the intense ties that unite the two nations”. In addition, On a personal level, the two Royal Houses maintain great harmony, their histories have many similarities and the Kings experienced unforgettable moments practically at the same time.
The kings of the Netherlands married in 2002. A year later, their first daughter Princess Amalia was born, in 2005 Princess Alexia and in 2007 Princess Ariane. The then princes of Asturias celebrated their royal wedding in Madrid in 2004, a year later they had Princess Leonor and in 2007 Infanta Sofia came into the world. The heir to the Spanish throne and second successor to Orange studied together at UWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales.. Their graduation, celebrated twelve months ago, united the two families in the United Kingdom.
–Kings Felipe and Letizia receive the Spanish community in the Netherlands
–The April Fair, a magical date for Guillermo and Máxima from the Netherlands: this is how their love story began in Seville 25 years ago
The setting for this evening is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, located in the heart of the city and usually used for royal events like the one that took place, for weddings, replacements on the throne and other events such as gala dinners and presentations. of gifts. It is considered the largest building of the 17th century, is open to the public with few exceptions and is notable for being one of the most important monuments in the Netherlands. Architect Jan van Campen designed it and was originally built to house Amsterdam City Hall.. In 1808, during the reign of Louis Bonaparte, it began to be used as a palace and its interior is a journey through the artistic history of the country through sculptures and paintings.
Your next steps in the Netherlands
On Thursday, the second day of the visit, it will begin in The Hague, where William of the Netherlands and King Philip will hold a meeting with companies from both countries dedicated to the cybersecurity sector. The objective is to exchange knowledge and strengthen economic and commercial ties. The Spanish monarch will also meet political authorities. Simultaneously, Queen Máxima and Queen Letizia will visit Nieuw-West LAB6, a center in Amsterdam dedicated to youth mental health where sports and cultural projects are organized. Then they will go together to the Teatro Real Tuschinski to attend the celebration of the 10th edition of the Spanish Cinema Festival.
In the afternoon, Felpe VI will participate with King William in a government lunch with Deputy Prime Minister Jetten. This event will focus on the Spanish-Dutch bilateral relationship and European cooperation in the field of energy and climate.. Once completed, they will be sent to the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael and the Royal Elcano Institute, who have worked hand in hand to create an agenda for the future of the European Union. Your tour will end at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, considered the technological heart of the European Space Agency, of which both countries are co-founders.
The trip ends Thursday evening with a royal reception for their guests at the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam. For the second time on the trip, Amalia from the Netherlands will be present and witness the opening of an exhibition of ten Spanish and Dutch muralists which will be open until June 2.