Dutch State Visit to the Vatican

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands are on a 4-day State Visit to Italy from June 20-23, which included a State Visit to the Vatican on June 22nd.

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In the morning, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited the Frisians Church, where they were received by the rector, Bishop Hurkmans.

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Upon arrival up the Swiss Guard, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima had a  meeting with Pope Francis in the Papal leave. Then the King and Queen had a conversation with the Vatican government, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

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Afterwards, in the Biblioteca Apostolica, King Willem-Alexander gifted the Pope with a staff attributed to Willem van Oranje, which is on loan from the Catalan Jesuit convent of Sant Cugat. From April to October 2018, the staff can we viewed at the National Military Museum in Soesterberg, for an exhibition on Willem van Oranje.

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King Willem-Alexander wore a dark suit with a grey tie. Queen Máxima wore a COS blouse with a long black skirt, a black lace veil, and large pearl and diamond earrings. Queen Máxima’s outfit is one of the most formal in recent years. The dress-code at the Vatican has gone from White Tie, mantillas, and tiaras in strict black or special white to suits and dresses in any colour.

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One thought on “Dutch State Visit to the Vatican

  1. With a Pope who declined some garment/adornment on the day he was elected, saying, carnival is over- it must be difficult deciding how much of the traditional dress to wear when meeting the pontiff. Queen Maxima looked great. Her veil was quite beautiful.

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