Dutch Inauguration: The Guests

These aren't the only Royal guests, if you want to see all of them and what they wore. Check this link. These aren't in alphabetical order.



The Duchess of Cornwall wore a pale blue dress, repeat a wind-blown hat, and is wearing the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Princess Letizia wore a gray lace dress, a gray floral hat, and the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore a white dress with floral prints, a blue veil/floral hat, and the Order of the Elephant.

Princess Mabel wore a black benie and a black dress with a single white sleeve. Crown Princess Masako of Japan wore a white dress with long sleeves and a turtle neckline, and the Order of the Precious Crown. Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant wore a pink dress with long sleeves, a large pink hat, and the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wore a blue printed floral dress, a flower head piece, and the Order of Orange-Nassau. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg wore a white dress with a white coat over top, a brown hat, and the Order of Adolphe of Nassau. Crown Princess Victoria wore a beige dress with a giant hat, which included flowers and feathers; and the Royal Order of the Seraphim

Sophie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Liechtenstein wore a green dress and a green head piece and the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Princess Aimee wore a gray/green maternity dress (she's expecting for the 3rd time!) and a orange hat Maxima has worn. Princess Irene wore a white lace dress,a matching hat and the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Princess Laurentien wore a red hat, a red outfit and the Order of the House of Orange. Princess Marliene wore a pink dress and a pink hat to match.

Dutch Inauguration: The Investiture Ceremony

The Investiture Ceremony took place at Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam. Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane wore matching blue dresses. Princess Mabel accompined the now, Princess Beatrix, who dressed in a blue dress and hat. Willem-Alexander and Maxima came a bit after them.

Princess Beatrix; Princess Mabel; Princess Alexia; Princess Catharina-Amalia; Princess Ariane

Willem-Alexander wore the, what I like to call it, Dutch Coronation Cloak/Cape (I don't know what it's officially called), he wore a simple black suit, and the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau.

Soon to be King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

Maxima wore the Mellerio Sapphire Tiara, along with a matching brooch and earrings. She wore a sapphire blue dress, with a matching blue coat over top; both created by Jan Taminiau. She wore the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Soon to be Queen Maxima wearing the Mellerio Sapphire Tiara and other Sapphire Jewels

The changes to the Dutch Royal Family are now, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien's children are no longer in the Royal Family. Queen Beatrix is now Princess Beatrix, and is still part of the Royal Family. Willem-Alexander is now King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Maxima is Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Catharina-Amalia is now, Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange. Princess Margriet's children (the ones that were in the Royal Family) are no longer part of the Royal Family.

Photos: MyRoyals

Dutch Inauguration: The Abdication Ceremony

The day started off with Abdication Ceremony of Queen Beatrix. It was held at the Royal Palace. Princess Mabel, Princess Laurentien, Prince Constantijn, Princess Ariane, Princess Alexia, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Margriet, Professor Pieter, (maybe a few more royals) were in attendance for the ceremony.

Photos: MyRoyals

Queen Beatrix Hosts Her Last Dinner

Today is the last full day that Queen Beatrix will be queen of the Netherlands. She had 23 good years as Queen. Today, she hosted her last dinner as Queen.

Dutch Ladies

Queen Beatrix wore a purple dress with a purple jacket to match. She wore the Wurttemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara, with a pearl corsage with it. Princess Maxima wore a repeat red Valentino dress, along with the Rose Cut Diamond Bandeau Tiara and a diamond necklace with a giant pendant. Princess Laurentien wore a fitting turquoise dress, she wore a new tiara to her, the Aquamarine Parure Tiara. She also wore a bow brooch with an aquamarine pendant.

Princess Mable wore a repeat red dress, with the Diamond Fishnet Necklace, and the Sapphire Parure Tiara, in the diamond setting. Princess Margriet wore the Pearl Button Tiara with the pearls. She wore a rose printed dress and a brown/gray shawl over top of it. Princess Christina made an appearance! She wore a light brown dress with the Laurel Wreath Tiara.

Princess Christina wore the Antique Pearl Tiara, with a black lace jacket and black and white checkered skirt.

Crown Princesses

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore a new dress! And I'm loving it! She wore her wedding tiara and earrings. Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant (Belgium) wore a one sleeved white dress, she wore her Laurel Wreath Tiara, she even got blond streaks... Very spiffy. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, believe of not is wearing a tiara. The tiny Diamond Daisy Tiara that she positioned in the middle of her head. I do love her dress though, Valentino I'm guessing.

 Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore a repeat purple dress. She wore the Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg wore a blue Elie Saab dress with Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde's Sapphire Tiara. Crown Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein wore a shiny brown skirt, with a white lace top. She wore the Habsburg Fringe Tiara.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Great Britain) wore the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. She wore a white top and black skirt combination... Not a fan. Letizia wore a black dress with black lace sleeves and neckline. Letizia wore the Mellerio Floral Tiara.

 

Is it a bit scary that I got 6/7 Tiara guessed right for the Crown Princesses?

The Life of: Prince Willem-Alexander

Tomorrow is the day that Prince Willem-Alexander becomes the King of the Netherlands. It's a big deal. I've even seen two commercials that were talking about that while I was watching "Touch". So... It truly is a big deal.

Prince Willem-Alexander was born on April 27, 1967 as Prince Willem-Alexander Claus George erdinand. He was born to Prince Claus of the Netherlands and then, Beatrix, Princess of Orange. Willem-Alexander has two younger brothers, Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau (b. 1968) and Prince Constantijn (b. 1969).

Prince Willem-Alexander attended Niuewe Baarnse Elementary School in Baarn from 1973 to 1979. He attended three different high schools. After school, he went into the military service. He performed it at the Royal Netherlands Navy from August of 1985 to January of 1987. He got his training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen where he was an ensign. In 1988, he received additional training at the ship of HNLMS Van Kinsbergen and became a lieutenant (junior grade). In 1987, Willem-Alexander studied history at Leiden University and received his academic degree in 1993.

Since 1985, when Willem-Alexander was 18, he is a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands. Willem-Alexander was named a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committe. Until 1998, when he was named a member of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). Willem-Alexander is passionate abut having the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Willem-Alexander went to the Seville Spring Fair in Seville, Spain in 1999. While there, he met Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. When they first met, he introduced himself as just "Alexander." Willem-Alexander and Máxima became more serious and Willem-Alexander revealed himself as a prince. Maxima replied saying, "Yeah right."

On March 30 2001 - Queen Beatrix as well as the prime minister of the Netherlands happily announced their engagement. Willem-Alexander present Máxima with an orange oval diamond with two smaller wife diamonds surrounding it.

Royal couples always need to seek approval from thier parliament to marry their fiance or fiancee, unless you no longer want to be part of the line of succession. The Dutch Parliament questioned whether or not that the two should marry because of Máxima's father. Willem-Alexander and Máxima later decided that they wouldn't invite Máxima's mother or father. The Parliament approved.

 The couple married in a civic and religious wedding ceremony both on February 2, 2002. They married in the Beurs van Berlage (for the civic wedding) in Amsterdam. The went to Nieuwe Kerk ("New Church") in Amsterdam to have their religious wedding.

The couple has three beautiful daughter, Catharina-Amalia (b. December 7, 2003), Princess Alexia (b. June 26, 2005), and Princess Ariane (b. April 10, 2007).

Then, this year, on January 31st, Queen Beatrix's 75th birthday. She announced she would abdicate in favour fo her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange. This will be a joyus, sad, and heartfelt moment for the Dutch Royal Family and for the people of the Netherlands.
Information: Wikipedia
Photos: Google (Key Words: "Prince Willem-Alexander", "Prince Willem-Alexander young", "Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Maxima, Queen Beatrix", "Prince Willem-Alexander Engagement",