Dutch King and Queen Kick-Off Italian State Visit

At the invitation of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands, started today, Tuesday June 20, a four-day state visit to Italy along with Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development.

Upon their arrival at the airport of Ciampino, the King and Queen were officially welcomed by President Mattarella and his daughter Laura in the courtyard of the Quirinale, the Presidential Palace. The King and the President inspected the guard of honour and the national anthems were played.

Inside the palace, after a private audience, the King and the President held a press conference.

Afterward the Royal Couple was received by the Chairman of the Senate, Pietro Grasso, and his wife Maria at the Palazzo Giustiniani. Then the Prime Minister of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni, and his wife Emanuela Mauro, hosted a lunch meeting at Palazzo Chigi for the Royal Couple.

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In the afternoon King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, also known as Altare della Patria, where they layed a wreath. Later the King and the Queen met with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, at the Palazzo Montecitorio, seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Then the Royal Couple went to the Rome city hall, the Campidoglio, where they were received by the Mayor of the town, Virginia Raggi.

During the visit the Mayor showed to the King and the Queen the beautiful view of the Roman Forum adjacent to the City Hall.

In the evening President Mattarella hosted a state banquet to the Royal Couple at the Palazzo del Quirinale. Among the others were present Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma, cousin of the King and currently ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Holy See, along with Princess Viktória, his wife, and the Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, designer of Queen Máxima’s wedding dress.

In his speech the King thanked the President for his warm welcome and he stressed the importance for Italy and the Netherlands to stay together to face the European challenges.

Filed under Italy, The Netherlands
Tagged House of Bourbon-Parma, Italy, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, President Mattarella of Italy, Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Viktória of Bourbon-Parma, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, State Visit.