Willem-Alexander's 40th Birthday Party

The Prince of Orange - Willem-Alexander - hosted a belated birthday party celebrating his 40th year on Saturday September 1st. The party was held at Het Loo Palace, and went well into the night.The birthday boy arrived in a horse-drawn carriage with his wife, Princess Máxima, and their three daughters - Princess Catharina-Amalia (3 and a half years), Princess Alexia (27 months) and Princess Ariane (4 and a half months). The Prince's eldest daughter had a slight accident when the carriage pulled to a stop (see video), but otherwise all three girls were as cute as buttons in pink gowns. The other guests arrived via the Royal Bus.

The Prince's mother, Queen Beatrix, and brother's Constantijn and Friso - with wives Laurentien and Mabel - were also in attendance. Other family members invited were Willem-Alexander's aunt, Princess Margriet, and uncle Pieter van Vollenhoven; their children Maurits and wife Marilène, Bernhard Jr and wife Annette, Pieter-Christiaan and wife Anita, and Floris with his pregnant wife Aimée. Máxima's parents, Jorge Zorreguieta and Carmen Cerrutti, and brother Martin were also in attendance; as well as plenty of royal guests including Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathile of Belgium, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia, Infanta Cristina and Inaki Urdangarin of Spain.

Added: Article from HELLO! Magazine - "Crown Prince Willem's daughters lead guests at royal birthday ball"

Copyright: ANP, Scanpix, PPE

New Pictures of Orange Girls

The Dutch Royal House has released new pictures of Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane while they were on holidays in Italy. The pictures were taken by their father Willem-Alexander.

Copyright: The Prince of Orange/RVD

Date for the Christening of Ariane Announced

The RVD today announced that the christening of Princess Ariane, the third daughter of the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima, will be held on October 20th, at the Cloister Church in The Hague.

RVD

Dutch Photo Session in the Royal Mews

Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Máxima and their three daughters - Amalia, Alexia (the birthday girl!) and Ariane - have completed a photo session celebrating the 2nd birthday of Princess Alexia in the Royal Mews in The Hague.

PPE Picture Gallery here

Added: Royal Press Picture Gallery here

Copyright: RVD & Yord/AP

Máxima Returns to Work!

Princess Máxima will return to official duties tomorrow, after taking three months maternity leave after the birth of Princess Ariane. The Princess shall address the High Level Inclusion Congress, in her capacity as member of the UN Advisory Board in the financial sector. The congress will take place in London. Photos will be posted as soon as they are available!

Thank-You from Willem-Alexander & Máxima

What has been dubbed the "Wassenaar Surprise" was revealed yesterday, at 0:01 Dutch time. The surprise? A lovely new photo of little Princess Ariane with her parents, and a thank-you note from Willem-Alexander & Máxima.

Read the thank-you note (in Dutch) here

A translation of the thank-you:
"The continuous stream of wonderful flowers, beautiful drawings, sweet cadeaus, personal letters and well-wishings we might receive from so many since the birth of Ariane was heartwarming. The enormous amount makes it necessary to express, on behalf of Ariane, our gratitude to You in this way, despite the fact we would like to have done it in a more personal manner.After an advanced start with the for us so trusted team from Bronovo Hospital, three weeks later Ariane appeared to have a virus and various bacterias. To our deep concern she needed to be admitted in Leyden Universitary Medical Center. Thanks to adequate action and excellent handling, also for the parents, the tide could be turned quickly and we are very grateful towards the nursing staff and the doctors. After a few days in the hospital we could, intensely happy, enclose Ariane again amidst our family, fully recovered and blossoming as before.This short but so heavy period in the yet still so short life of Ariane caused a new flood of sweet and heartwarming reactions which have been a great support for us. Your sympathy has touched us so deeply and we feel an intense gratitude for that."

Copyright: RVD

Surprise from Wassenaar!

According to royalblog.nl, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima will give us a surprise from Wassenaar on Wednesday! Could it be a possible photo-session with all three Orange princesses? Stay tuned...