Royals in Shanghai at EXPO 2010

The 2010 edition of the World EXPO is currently taking place in Shanghai, China, and has been attended by the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima.

On their first day in Shanghai, Willem-Alexander and Máxima visited the Dutch Cultural Centre, which is apart of this year’s World EXPO, in down town Shanghai. As the day (May 17th) was also Princess Máxima’s 39th birthday, she was given a pair of Chinese-style blue pyjamas by John Körmeling, the architect of part of the Dutch exhibition. The pyjamas were logoed with ‘Happy Street’, the name of the Dutch pavilion of the World EXPO.

The royals visited ‘Happy Street’ the following day, Máxima recycling the lovely green and cream outfit she wore to last year’s state visit to Mexico. They also visited various other aspects of the EXPO, including the China pavilion and the EXPO Garden. That night, the Prince and Princess attended a performance by the Dutch Dance Theatre at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

On their last day in China, Willem-Alexander and Máxima visited the Green Building DSM, where they tried some yoghurt-garlic tea along with Dutch Minister Maria van der Hoeven. They concluded their visit with a ride on the Maglev, a Chinese train which can reach speeds of up to 430 kilometres an hour (220 miles per hour).

Similarly, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was also in China between May 21st and May 23rd. He met with the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing; before attending a reception marking sixty years of bilateral ties between Beijing and Sweden. On May 23rd, the King attended the official opening ceremony (including a flag raising) of the Swedish pavilion at World EXPO, accompanied by the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister, Maud Olofsson.

Filed under Sweden, The Netherlands
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Birthday, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, China, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Official Visit, President Hu Jintao of China, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, World EXPO.