Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander & Princess Maxima in Middle-East trip to UAE & Oman

This caption stirred a row in the Netherlands, for the fact the Queen and Princess Maxima used veils in a sacred place. No comments.

On January 8th, Queen Beatrix accompanied by Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Princess Máxima, and a delegation of business leaders visited the UAE, invited by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This was the Queen’s fiftieth state visit since she was crowned in 1980.


On January 10th, the Queen and her entourage traveled on to Oman at the invitation of Sultan Qaboos. A prior state visit, planned in March, was called off in view of the ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations and the violent crackdown by Oman’s authorities. The Dutch parliament cancelled the state visit after two demonstrators died in clashes with Omani security forces in February. Dutch MPs did not want the state visit to be seen as endorsing the regime. In a surprise move, Queen Beatrix travelled to Oman after all, arguing her tip had been downgraded to a private visit.


Sultan Qaboos is Oman’s head of state, prime minister, defence minister, foreign minister and the head of the armed forces. The country has no legal political parties.


The UAE is a federation of seven absolute monarchies. The Federal National Council consists of 40 members drawn from all the emirates. Half are appointed by the emirates’ rulers, and the other half are indirectly elected to serve two-year terms.The first indirect elections took place in 2006.

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Scandinavian Royals visit Ground Zero (October 2011)

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark - Day 1 in Australia (part 2)

 

 

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[The Netherlands] Queen Beatrix hosts dinner for Mali's president, Amadou Toumani Toure and his wife

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December 2nd, 2011 - Official photo of President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré and and Mrs Touré Lobbo Traoré with Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima. The President was in the Netherlands for a 3 day official visit in The Netherlands

[United Kingdom][VIDEO] Queen Elizabeth II gives ceremonial welcome to Turkey's President Abdullah Gül

King and Queen of Bhutan end 6-day official visit to Japan

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema left Japan after wrapping up their six-day visit as state guests Sunday.

Before leaving from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, the royal couple visited the Sento Imperial Palace in Kyoto and took a 30-minute walk in its garden, enjoying autumn colors and taking pictures of themselves in front of a pond.

The couple arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday and later met with Crown Prince Naruhito and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his wife. While attending a series of ceremonies including a state banquet, they also visited Fukushima Prefecture to encourage people affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and the ensuing nuclear crisis triggered by the disaster.

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Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark - Day 1 in Australia (part 1)

On the one hand, Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark were on official duties as they began their tour of Australia.

But the royal couple, who are known for putting family first, were also busy entertaining twins Josephine and Vincent during the visit.

The Danish Royals have returned to Mary's homeland for a six day tour, and it seems the down-to-earth couple will be balancing work and family whilst on the road.

Joining them were their adorable 11-month old tots who were described by their father as "miracles times two" when they were born in January of this year.

And in a nod to their mum's roots, the twins were clutching a stuffed koala and kangaroo –a gift from Australia's Governor General, Quentin Bryce - who also attended their opening photo call.

There was no sign of the couple's other two children five-year-old Christian and Isabella, who is three.

They spent their first day in typical Aussie style, enjoying a beach stroll and a barbecue before zipping round the harbour on a boat.

With official duties and children taken care of, they got into the competitive spirit as they hopped onto some excercise bikes at the during the launch of an arts project.

Australian politician, Barry O'Farrell, was on hand to welcome Mary and her husband to Sydney and had glowing words for his guests .

"Like many Australians, we share in the royal romance and relationship that some have described as a fairytale'' he said.

This is the royals first official visit to Australia since 2008.

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