It's that time of year again – the sun is shining and Europe's royals are in the holiday mood. And the Netherlands' Princess Maxima and her three little 'mini-me's have inaugurated summer portrait season with their usual flair. Looking pretty in pink, Princess Amalia , 8 seven-year-old Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, who is five, were the image of their vivacious Argentine mother as they raced around the gardens of their official residence Eikenhorst, on the De Horsten estate 30 minutes from Amsterdam, on bikes.
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his girls love to spend quality time together when the youngsters, dubbed the 'Triple A princesses' by their dad, have time off school. When his daughters posed patiently for the official picture, the proud royal commended his girls for their good behaviour. And Maxima revealed that future snaps might take place in more exotic surroundings. Renovations are being completed on a sprawling, secluded holiday home near the town of Kranidi, Greece, recently purchased by the royal couple.
Maxima said: "We hope that next summer we can enjoy our dream home, at sea." The idyllic afternoon took a more sombre turn when photographers asked the Dutch heir about his brother Johan Friso – who is in a coma following a skiing accident. Willem-Alexander replied: "I hope that in future we can communicate something more positive, but unfortunately there has been no progress so far."