L-R: Étienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister; The Queen of the Netherlands; Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister; The King of the Netherlands; General Alain Duschène, Chief of Staff of the Army;
Credit: © SIP / Charles Caratini, all rights reserved
Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen of the Netherlands today travelled to Luxembourg for a state visit.
Upon invitation of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Dutch monarchs will visit the Grand Duchy from 23-25 May 2018. They are accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Stef Blok, and the Secretary of State Infrastructure and Water Management of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Stientje van Veldhoven.
Today, on the first day of their state visit, the sovereigns of the Netherlands were welcomed at Luxembourg Findel Airport by the hereditary Grand Duke and the Minister of Family and Integration and Minister to the Greater Region, Corinne Cahen.
The official reception of Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen of the Netherlands by their Luxembourg counterparts, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, was then held on the forecourt of the Grand Ducal Palace. After the military honours, the playing of the national anthems, the review of the troops and the presentation of the respective delegations, the two royal couples met for a face-to-face interview at the palace.
The programme then provided for the laying of a wreath at the National Monument of Luxembourg Solidarity by the Dutch monarchs, in the presence of the Prime Minister and Minister of State, Xavier Bettel, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Alain Duschène. Upon leaving the monument, they greeted the flag bearers and the members of the Committee for the Memory of the Second World War as well as the representatives of the patriotic movements and associations.
The Dutch royal couple then proceeded to join the Grand Ducal Palace for a private lunch in the presence of the Grand Ducal couple and the hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess. Then, in the early afternoon, the Dutch monarchs received successively in audience the President of the Chamber of Deputies Mars Di Bartolomeo, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister Jean Asselborn at the Grand Ducal Palace.
The royal couples will then be welcomed at the Hôtel de Ville by Mayor Lydie Polfer for an academic session, in the presence of the council and municipal council before taking a walk along the Corniche.
Finally, a gala dinner hosted by Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess in honour of the Dutch monarchs, in the presence of the hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess, at the Grand Ducal Palace will close this first day of the state visit.
