King Willem-Alexander’s Milestone Birthday – The Big 5-0

On April 27 King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands marks his milestone fiftieth birthday. It will be celebrated with a dinner at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on Friday night.

The King is the eldest of three sons born to Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands. He was educated at the United World College of the Atlantic and Leiden University, and did eighteen months training with the Royal Netherlands Navy. In 2002, Willem-Alexander married Máxima Zorreguieta, with whom he has three children: Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. He became King of the Netherlands on April 30, 2013 upon the abdication of his mother.

Yesterday, several new photographs of the King at home, Villa Eikenhorst, with the family’s pet dogs, Skipper and Nala, were released by the RVD. A televised interview was broadcast last night, in which the King spoke of a number of different events from his fifty years – the most moving moment of the interview was when Willem-Alexander spoke of the 2013 loss of his younger brother, Prince Friso.

“You only realize what you’re losing when you don’t have each other anymore. He lived in London, with Mabel and the children, but was a good advisor in the background. Sometimes crude, but always completely honest. Once you don’t have that anymore, your really miss it,” the King said.

Nieuwe foto's van koning Willem-Alexander – gemaakt door @FVBFotografie – vrijgegeven door RVD vanwege 50ste verjaardag pic.twitter.com/Nejti399ps

— Rick Evers (@Rick_Evers) April 26, 2017

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Birthday, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Portraits.