Crown Prince Naruhito and his family might have flown half way around the world, but they seemed right at home in the Netherlands in the company of their royal counterparts this week.
Queen Beatrix is playing hostess to Naruhito, his wife Masako and their daughter Aiko at Het Loo Palace, a beautiful fifteenth century castle in Apeldoorn in the east of the country. By the look of the happy scene it seems that the Dutch monarch, together with her son Prince Willem-Alexander and his Argentine wife Maxima, had given their royal visitors an especially warm welcome as they began their summer sojourn.
The four-year old Japanese princess won't be short of playfellows on her first trip abroad. She was soon getting to know Willem's daughters Amalia and Alexia as the two families posed for official photographs in the royal stables. The three girls looked picture perfect in their pretty powder blue dresses, cheerfully waving to the assembled snappers without a hint of shyness while their proud parents laughed and joked during the relaxed photocall.
It is hoped the summer holiday will prove a recuperative break for 42-year-old princess Masako who is suffering from a stress-related condition. She has been accompanied by her doctor on the trip – her first abroad since a 2002 official trip to Australia and New Zealand. The former diplomat is expected to spend time with her father Hisashi Owada, a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Naruhito last visited the Netherlands to attend the 2002 nuptials of Willem and Maxima, which his wife missed as she had recently given birth to their daughter. The Imperial couple will return to Japan on August 31, just before Masako's sister-in-law Princess Kiko is due to give birth by caesarean section.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
