Dutch King and Queen Begin State Visit to Ireland

At the invitation of President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima started today, Wednesday June 12, a three-day state visit to Ireland.
Upon their arrival in Dublin the Royal Couple was welcomed by President Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, the president’s official residence. The King inspected the guard of honor and then, along with the Queen, following an Irish tradition, planted a tree.
Inside the residence the Royal Couple and the Presidential Couple posed for the official pictures, the guest book was signed and then took place a reception at the presence of the Dutch delegation .
Then the King and the Queen paid their respect to the Irish independence fighters by laying a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin.
In the afternoon the Royal Couple visited the Irish Parliament, the Leinster House, where they met with the presidents of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Afterwards the King and the Queen visited the headquarter of Dogpatch Labs, a start-up hub located in the heart of Dublin’s “Silicon Docks”. Dogpatch Labs’ “mission is to accelerate the development of Ireland’s startup ecosystem by providing a valuable community from where you can grow, share knowledge and form connections”.
In the evening President Higgins hosted a state banquet in honor of the Royal Couple.
In his speech King Willem-Alexander paid respect ” for the men and women who created and built up independent Ireland is great. Our visit is also a tribute to all those millions of people who have made this country what it is today: a green beacon of freedom, vitality and friendship in Europe”, and he also praised Ireland for being “naturally committed to working across borders, as an active member of the European Union and the United Nations, as a participant in peace missions and as a development partner”.

Het driedaagse #staatsbezoek aan Ierland begint in Dublin. Na de welkomstceremonie plant het Koninklijk Paar – volgens traditie – een boom. https://t.co/WDfLxXaZG6 #NLIRL pic.twitter.com/fXLox2wQq1

— Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) June 12, 2019

Sa tráthnóna den chéad lá de Chuairt Stáit Rí na hÍsiltíre, d’óstáil an tUachtarán agus Saidhbhín Uí Uiginn Dinnéar Stáit in onóir a n-aíonna. pic.twitter.com/2bnLYOGWyL

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) June 12, 2019

 

 

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Ireland, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, State Visit.