With their 'triple A' daughters in tow, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima headed to Lech, the Austrian town where the Dutch royal family has spent its winters for more than 50 years. Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands and their three daughters, Amelia, Alexia and Ariana, surprised locals when they chose to travel by train to Austria, where they'll enjoy their last winter holiday as heirs to the Dutch throne.
On Friday the Prince of Orange, who will become King on April 30, boarded the train at Amsterdam Central Sation for the start of the east-bound journey to Lech. The family travelled to Utrecht where they changed to the Alpen Express, the train favoured by winter sports lovers, which took them to Austria.
Speaking in the station the excited future King said he was looking forward to enjoying the snow and tranquility of the Alps before facing one of the most important moments of his life, becoming King of the Netherlands. The holiday will be filled with fun; the trip is tinged with sadness. On Sunday 24 the Dutch royal family are expected to attend a religious ceremony for Prince Friso, as it will be a year to the day that Willem-Alexander's brother went into a coma following a skiing accident whilst in Lech.