King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will host King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on their State Visit to The Netherlands today, which is the latest in a long series of meetings between the two Royal Families in recent decades.
The entire extended Dutch Royal Family attended the Wedding of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in Athens in 1962.
In 1966, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia attended the Wedding of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, as well as the Wedding Ball in Amsterdam.
In 1980, Queen Juliana (wearing the Dutch Diamond Bandeau) and Prince Bernhard hosted King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (in the Spanish Floral Tiara) on their State Visit to the Netherlands, being joined by the soon-to-be Queen Beatrix (wearing Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara) just a month before the Abdication of Queen Juliana.
The next month, Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz represented the Spanish Royal Family at the Inauguration of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands in 1980.
A few years later, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara) hosted Queen Beatrix (in the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara) and Prince Claus of The Netherlands on their State Visit to Spain in 1985, with Queen Beatrix becoming the first female to receive the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Queen Beatrix (wearing the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara) and the Dutch Royal Family hosted King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (in the Mellerio Shell Tiara) on their second State Visit to The Netherlands in 2001, which was the first State Banquet attended by the then Máxima Zorreguieta (wearing the Aquamarine Tiara).
The couple met in Spain, so naturally the Spanish Royal Family were led by Queen Sofia and the Prince of Asturias at the Wedding of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in 2002, following a Ball at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
Two years later, Queen Beatrix was joined by the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima for the Wedding of Crown Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz.
The Prince and Princess of Asturias represented Spain at the Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands in 2013.
Following their Accession, King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima made an introductory visit to Spain in September 2013.
Over a year later, King Felipe and Queen Letizia made an introductory State Visit to The Netherlands following the Accession of King Felipe VI of Spain earlier that year.
A few years later, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were back in The Netherlands to attend King Willem-Alexander 50th Birthday Dinner, being photographed leaving their Hotel in The Hague ahead of the Dinner in Royal Mews for the Noordeinde Palace.
In the past few years, King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima have met King Felipe and Queen Letizia on numerous occasions, including the Order of the Garter Service in 2019, the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have already arrived in The Netherlands, holding a Reception for the Spanish Community in Amsterdam last night, ahead of the Official Ceremonies today.
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
