Abdication of Beatrix & Inauguration of WA: Royals Arriving, Sightseeing and Leaving
 

Already there:smile:
Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako arriving at the Okura Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 28 April 2013. The japanese royals ware guests for the crowning of Dutch Prince Willem- Alexander on 30 April.
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Ohh, it begins! :clap:

Ahhh the excitement begins!!! I'm so thrilled!

The arrival of TIH Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako at Amsterdam International Schiphol Airport yesterday:

http://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?eventid=1519114

And guests arriving at the Okura hotel,Amsterdam,besides TIH the CP couple of Japan,it's also HRH Lalla Salma of Morocco who checked-in there yesterday:

http://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?eventid=1519115

Courtesy Koen van Weel and Marcel Antonisse.

http://www.okura.nl/






:flowers:

"Hola" Naruhito y Masako de Japón, los primeros en viajar a Holanda para el gran dí | Noticias hola.com

Are there any day events today?

Nope, just the evening event tonight. That's according to the official program.

Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako arrive at Schiphol Airport, on April 28, 2013. The japanese royals are guests to attend the Dutch Prince Willem-Alexander enthronement next 30 April.
Getty Image Gallery

Some more pictures of the arrival of the Japanese royals: 1 ** 2 ** 3 ** 4 ** 5 ** 6 ** 7 ** 8 ** 9 ** 10 ** 11 ** 12 ** 13

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Please pay attention to how Masako notices first (0.24) that there are (obviously, although we do not see them) people who want to welcome them in the Netherlands, beams at them, then touches Naruhito´s arm to make him aware of the crowd (with taking the welcome opportunity to fondly stroke his shoulder ;)), and how the couple then enthusiastically wave to the well-wishers. So sweet! :flowers:

See also here.

Except that HM left Huis ten Bosch Palace a short while ago,her Residence,as Queen of The Netherlands heading for the Palace in Amsterdam,and to return there late tomorrow evening as Princess...I call that a silent event,but nonetheless...a silent event of sorts.

And this morning there's the rehearsal at the Nieuwe Kerk by Willem-Alexander,Máxima and their three girls,the welcoming of the guests,the gala dinner hosted by HM Queen Beatrix and millions of us here preparing for the (pre-recorded-) farewell speech by HM Queen Beatrix this evening on National TV Ned1 at 20.30PM,the time of the start of the gala dinner at the Rijksmuseum....

I think of those who will travel to Amsterdam today,or are here already and making sure they don't miss out on anything tomorrow,and will stay posted all night long on the front row at the Dam Square to watch the balcony appearance and TM proceeding from the Palace to the church tomorrow!I hope the night won't be too cold for them!

An eventfull day?...I think so yes...:flowers:

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand leaves the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam
https://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?pag...23170445&pos=3
https://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?pag...23170452&pos=0
https://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?pag...23170492&pos=6

Pictures of the rehearsal
PPE Agency
https://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?eventid=1519925

Video:
Willem-Alexander and his family attended a dress rehearsal today:
Prins bij generale repetitie 30/4 - NOS Nieuws

Here's another gallery of the rehearsal:



** dpp: Preparations for investiture King Willem-Alexander **

A nice little detail, ChiaraC :flowers:

CP Masako looks great. I understand she has relatived in the Netherlands, presumably she's loking forward to seeing them.

http://www.yuko2ch.net/mako/makok/src/1367208128091.jpg

A few details I noticed. The Japanese CP couple appears not to be accompanied by a Japanese adjutant. Is that standard procedure?
Also the guard of honor at the bottom of the stairs puzzles me. I can tell it's a guards unit. They are not cavalry though. They look to be chausseurs or alternatively gendarmes. Can anyone enlighten an old uniform nerd, please?

cute family thanks for the video.

i am so happy to see Princess Masakoshe looks great on those photos.

Yes, her parents. I hope that she will get an opportunity to meet with them. (It seems that her family happened to be in Tokyo just recently but Masako could not see them. Source)

I suppose that the imperial staff was still waiting in the plane, as the crown prince and princess were to leave first (and have the "stage" to them ;)). They must have quite a few attendants with them because the IHA made a lot of fuss when it was not clear yet back in March if Masako would go, too. They were worried because in case she did, they needed rooms in the hotel for her staff, but on the other hand, if they made reservations, and she would have ended up not going, they would have had to pay cancellation fees. (I would suppose that she would not have minded just leaving some of them at home and save the money, but that is probably completely out of the question. :rolleyes:)

Great to see Masako and Naruhito, whose face lights up indeed when he is with his wife. I hope she is able to attend most parts of the ceremonies and that she can enjoy her time here (& hopefully sees her parents).

Will there be sightseeing? When?

At some previous royal weddings or celebrations there were pictures of royals walking around in the city. So we added it to the title, just in case they do. But nothing is planned that we know of. I hear that the Rijks Museum is closed the entire day for visitors (they are preparing for tonights dinner), so maybe a few are going there.

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HM The Queen has arrived
Beatrix aangekomen op Dam - NOS Nieuws

As did Constantijn + family.