The kiss seemed to go on for ever. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Princess Maxima had just, seconds earlier, stepped onto the balcony of the royal palace that was garlanded with white blooms for the occasion, to wave to their people. The thousands of people thronged beneath demanded that their future monarch show his love for the woman who, in just 11 months, had won their affection.
He did not need any prompting and planted a long, tender smacker on his princess’s lips, murmuring secret words of endearment to her. And when they broke apart, the joy on Maxima’s face was there for everyone to see. It was a smile that, had it been connected to the Dutch National Grid, would have blown the power up and down the nation.
Fifteen minutes earlier, the bride and groom had pulled up in the courtyard of the royal palace, after their first journey in wedded bliss, through the streets of Amsterdam. As the historic gold coach, pulled by a sextet of horses and accompanied by an outrider of the Royal Guard, passed over one of the city’s main canals, the boats’ sails billowing in the fresh air, the hordes of people lining the route cheered their prince and his bride as they made their way to their wedding reception.
On Koningsplein, the coach passed a small demonstration of about 100 people carrying placards that read: "Where is my son?", in memory of the tens of thousands of people who disappeared during the brutal military junta that ruled Argentina in the Seventies. Maxima's father Jorge was agricultural minister during this period, and was not invited to attend his daughter's wedding because of his involvement in the junta. A number of republicans also joined the demonstration and there was criticism of Nelson Mandela's presence at the wedding. The noise of banging saucepan lids frightened one of the horses accompanying the coach.
Back at the royal palace, before the newlyweds greeted their guests, it was time to salute the people. The glass doors leading onto the balcony opened up and Willem-Alexander and Maxima made their way into the open air. The prince could not have look happier if he'd tried, standing shoulder to shoulder with his blonde bride, whose Valentino dress was accessorised with diamond jewellery – a beautiful star motif tiara matched with a simple bracelet and drop earrings.
The gems glittered in the winter sun, but it was nothing compared to the joy on the faces of the newlyweds. As the crowd whooped and cheered, caught up in a tidal wave of happiness, the prince turned to his bride again and kissed her passionately, cheered on by the Dutch citizens gathered in the courtyard below.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
