The Duchess of Cambridge Current Events 5: February 2015-January 2019

[Rudolph]

Lunch with the King but Maxima will be abroad

Marc van der Linden ‏@MarcvdLinden
The Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Netherlands oct 11th. She will lunch with the Dutch King, but will miss Máxima who will be abroad.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

What a pity Queen Máxima will be abroad. Maybe Princess Beatrix will peep in and attend lunch. She sometimes does since her abdication (visit of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, visit of Prince Albert of Monaco).

 

[Iluvbertie]

The good thing about Maxima being absent is that the press won't go on and on about what each of them are wearing and turning it into a competition.

 

[Osipi]

Although its a given that appearances, engagements and foreign tours do signify that the summer holiday season is over with, Kate making a solo trip to the Netherlands is a strong clue that the Cambridges are ramping up to be full time working royals.

I think she'll be successful with this trip too but also agree that with Maxima out of the picture for this visit, a lot of the fashion comparisons will be avoided. Ever notice that when men are together there is no comparison between suits?

 

[Curryong]

Oh, I don't know, Osipi, when Prince Henrik of Denmark is around all comparisons with any other male's clothing fades away!

 

[roseroyal]

Yay! Looking forward to it! I'm sad that Maxima won't be there- because I love her, and even though I get Osipi's point- would love to see her and Catherine dressed to the nines! I also see your point Curryong.
But KWA seems quite outgoing so it should be quite an experience for him and Catherine!

 

[TLLK]

Oh, I don't know, Osipi, when Prince Henrik of Denmark is around all comparisons with other male's clothing fades away!

 

[Osipi]

You're absolutely right. Henri is in a class all by himself when it comes to male fashions.

 

[Marty91charmed]

Very curious to finally see Kate on a solo engagement abroad. Hopefully she won't pull out of it again. lol

 

[Rudolph]

She 'pulled out' of the visit to Malta on doctor's advice, as she was suffering from severe morning sickness and HG.

Doesn't look like any babies this year, so the visit to the Netherlands is on.

 

[Marty91charmed]

^^^ Oh thank you for informing me about the reason why she didn't go to Malta, Rudolph, I knew that already, without it you help ;-)

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

One thing for sure, the Mauritshuis, a small city-palace ordered by Prince Johan Maurits of Nassau (1604-1679) is a fabulous building, housing a collection of famous paintings owned by the State.

The Mauritshuis also showcases items from the Royal Cabinet of Paintings in the nearby Gallery Prince Willem V. That is done à la the mode of the 18th C: a cluttering of paintings from the royal collection.

The Duchess of Cambridge will have a fabulous day out and enjoy art!

 

[Marengo]

It is not sure if the duchess will be escorted by a Dutch royal, nothing is mentioned on the royal calendar. Only that HRH will be received at the Eikenhorst (by whom they do not say). There are only 2 full-time royals -one of whom is apparently abroad- and 3 semi-retired royals.

As it is special when somebody of the house of Windsor descends from the mount Olympus to visit us dwarfs on the continent, perhaps they will do their best to fête the Duchess. Maybe princess Beatrix will attend the lunch -if there is to be a lunch as the royal website does not mention this- or escort the duchess to the Mauritshuis. Or perhaps they can ask Princess Laurentien to take the afternoon off from work.

A pity that Queen Máxima is not in The Netherlands (no idea why as the royal calender has her abroad from October 7 to 9, there is nothing on the 11th), I would have liked to see them together again. The Dutch press will certainly love the visit of the Duchess, especially as it is her first visit here. It will surely make headlines in the press and I suspect there will be a lot of people trying to catch a glimpse of the Duchess. Especially in Rotterdam where they are not used to high profile visitors.

Apparently they can not receive guests at Noordeinde yet (or Huis ten Bosch), but let's hope they won't use the container that is in the garden of the Eikenhorst but use the villa itself instead. Public works in the Netherlands usually are never-ending; to have the two palaces of The Hague under renovation at the same time may be needed, but it is not very practical. It is rather embarrassing that they can not receive the future Queen of the UK in a proper place but in a nouveau riche villa from the 80-ties at best. At least HRH will see the Mauritshuis, which is beautiful indeed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...-to-visit-the-netherlands-in-first-solo-roya/

 

[Rudolph]

The Foreign Office and Kensington Palace wouldn't have announced she's being received by the King if it wasn't confirmed.

 

[carlota]

i have no problems that they are welcoming kate at Villa Eikenhorst. in fact, i think it is even better: they are opening the doors of their own home to her, which is a sign of friendship and closeness.

i am very excited about the trip, it will be fab to see kate outside the UK. i am just disappointed that maxima won't be there as she would have been a great host to go with kate to her visits. in any case, i hope that another dutch royal accompanies her (maybe lauretien or even mabel?)

 

[Marengo]

The Foreign Office and Kensington Palace wouldn't have announced she's being received by the King if it wasn't confirmed.

I wouldn't dare to suggest that the information coming from Kensington Palace or the British Foreign Office is anything but correct. My irritation was with the insufficient information on the Dutch royal website.

i am very excited about the trip, it will be fab to see kate outside the UK. i am just disappointed that maxima won't be there as she would have been a great host to go with kate to her visits. in any case, i hope that another dutch royal accompanies her (maybe lauretien or even mabel?)

Mabel does not do any official functions on behalf of the Royal House, she can not represent the country either. So perhaps princess Laurentien or princess Beatrix. Or if they are busy a lady-in-waiting of the court, we do not have many active royals. I do not know where Marc van der Linden got the information that the Queen will be abroad, because this is not listed in the Dutch royal calendar. Let's hope he is incorrect.

 

[Rudolph]

The Duchess of Cambridge will become a “potent force” in Britain’s bridge-building with EU countries as Brexit looms, a former ambassador has said, as the Duchess prepares to visit the Netherlands this week.

The Netherlands is one of Britain’s biggest trading partners, with £68 billion of goods crossing the North Sea every year, but has not received a visit from a senior member of the Royal family for three years.

The Duchess’s first solo foreign trip will take her to The Hague on Tuesday, where she will meet King Willem-Alexander at his official residence, Villa Eikenhorst.

Her day of soft diplomacy will continue with a visit to the capital’s Mauritshuis art gallery to promote an exhibition of Dutch paintings owned by the Queen, as well as a mental health conference and a brief stop at a community project in Rotterdam.

It is likely to be the first in a regular roster of royal visits to European countries by members of the Royal family as the Government deploys them to help “beef up” bilateral relations with individual EU member states.

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge will be 'potent force' in Brexit bridge-building with EU countries

 

[Lumutqueen]

Catherine will be in Holland for a day, when's William going to Vietnam?

 

[Rudolph]

Royals have been used for soft diplomacies for years. It's one the their main roles when abroad.

The Netherlands is one of Britain's largest EU trading partners and haven't had a visit from a senior British royal in 3 years. Who better to go than the future Queen.

 

[Curryong]

Kate may not be Queen for another twenty years or more,(by which time Britain and Europe will have changed dramatically) and she's unlikely to return to the Netherlands for another few years anyway.

I doubt very very much (in fact I'd put money on it) that Kate would be talking about Brexit (or any other sort of government policy for that matter) with King Willem Alexander or any politician crossing her path.

 

[Osipi]

I seriously doubt also that Kate will be discussing Brexit or any other topic with political ties in the Netherlands. Perhaps soft topics like art masters of both countries and what the Netherlands is doing as far as bringing attention to the issues of mental health and certain topics that are pertinent yet uncontroversial.

It kind of reminds me of William's trip to China. He met with the President and officially issued an invitation to visit Britain at Her Majesty's request which did happen and we saw the Cambridges at their first state dinner. He also, while there, focused quite a bit on his conservation efforts and was pretty successful with getting China on board I believe.

Although senior royals do visit other countries representing their monarch, they are seen more as ambassadors of the UK rather than political strategists or having an agenda to cement between two countries.

 

[Dman]

The royals are doing their diplomatic duties. Catherine is simply doing that. We are seeing the royals stepping up their roles now. Not getting totally political, but acting in the UK's best interest.

To try to make it seem this would be Catherine's job alone is pretty much misleading.

 

[TLLK]

Agree with Curryong, Dman and Osipi that "Brexit" is not likely to be a topic of serious discussion between W-A and Catherine. That is a matter for their respective governments and their elected representatives.

However I would expect that he will be a gracious and personable host who likely remembers his first solo visits abroad and will do his best to put his guest at ease. Years ago some other monarch would have done the same for the then Prince of Orange and later for his wife. Both W-A and Catherine know the "boundaries" that accompany their roles as members of a modern European reigning house. Like Osipi mentioned safe topics that are related to her charities and patronages along with friendly chats about kids and family are likely to be the focus of their meeting.

 

[Skippyboo]

The Duchess isn't going to discussing Brexit but with Brexit the U.K. may adjust which countries that try to woo. The royals are part of the wooing process. Other than the Queen going to France, Germany and Italy, there has not been a lot of attention to Europe and the royals have been sent to other places such as South America, Asia and commonwealth countries. Now with Brexit, the U.K. may choose to focus more on their European neighbors. So maybe next year the Cambridges go to Germany instead of South Africa or Mexico.


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[Osipi]

I, personally, would think that trips to the Commonwealth nations would be at a higher priority than the European ones as Will and Kate up their foreign tours but that's just me.

 

[Dman]

I'm just glad she's doing this. It's time and she's ready to take on more prominent roles within the firm.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

I understand that Catherine is there for official reasons but, as she's one of my favourite European royals; a part of me wonders if she will get the chance to meet Queen Maxima whilst she is in the Netherlands. I read that Maxima has an engagement tomorrow though but I'm not entirely sure if I read correctly.

 

[GömdNatt]

I understand that Catherine is there for official reasons but, as she's one of my favourite European royals; a part of me wonders if she will get the chance to meet Queen Maxima whilst she is in the Netherlands. I read that Maxima has an engagement tomorrow though but I'm not entirely sure if I read correctly.

Isn't Maxima supposed to be in Argentina on the 12th? So she would probably leave the 11th and might not see Kate.

I find it interesting that suddenly people want Kate it have an opinion when they're all over Charles for ever having an opinion.

 

[PetticoatLane]

Much like the Queen, she'll head abroad, say nothing of any import politically and lots of locals will come out to get a look at her.

The government clearly think this will be useful, for whatever reason, otherwise they wouldn't let her go.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Isn't Maxima supposed to be in Argentina on the 12th? So she would probably leave the 11th and might not see Kate.

That must be the engagement I was thinking about because I just double checked and according to Google, Maxima is in Argentina from the 11th until the 12th, so you're right.