Making their first official visit together, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his new wife Princess Maxima received a colourful and enthusiastic welcome when they arrived in Ghana on Monday.
The Dutch royal couple, who married at a gala ceremony in Amsterdam two months ago, touched down at Kotoka airport, near to the capital Accra, to the sound of drums beating out traditional local rhythms, before being taken on to meet the country's president.
As the royal couple disembarked from the airplane, a local chief poured spirit on the ground to ask that his ancestors welcome them. Although the trip is only classed as a state visit, the two have received treatment equivalent to a full state visit.
The Dutch ambassador, A Heldring, and Vice-President A Mahama were at the airport to welcome them on a visit which has been timed to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Ghana. From the airport, Willem-Alexander and Maxima were escorted to the ancient Danish Christian Borg Castle where they met President John Kufuor – the successor of Jerry Rawlings, who ruled the country for almost 20 years until 2000. Mr Kufuor said the two made a “marvellous couple” and described the visit as like a “sweet cake”, a comment which was received with applause. This is the first visit that Princess Maxima has made in an official capacity, and also the first time she has visited Africa. Her husband, Prince Willem-Alexander, however, has visited the continent on a number of occasions.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
