Four queens in Paris

Later this summer, Paris will welcome its fourth queen of 2014.  Since the beginning of the year, two consorts and one regnant have visited the City of Light.  Now the newest queen in Europe is heading there too - Letizia of Spain will be visiting with Felipe VI as they begin a series of introductory visits. And perhaps it's the romance of the city, perhaps it's just a queenly colour but the three regal visitors so far have all been in the pink.

Queen Elizabeth II with President Francois Hollande on her State Visit to Paris which took place between June 5th and June 7th 2014

The only regnant to have visited the Elysee Palace, Elizabeth II, chose a baby pink suit and matching hat for her audience with President Francois Hollande on June 5th 2014.  The Queen looked stunning as she held an audience with the president and exchanged gifts.  At the end of her visit to Paris, Elizabeth II was again in pink as a flower market was named after her.  And at her side, again, was Francois Hollande who will be welcoming more royal visitors than any other head of state this year.

Queen Elizabeth II unveils a plaque at the flower market named after her

But the Queen wasn't the first royal in Paris to choose pink for her visit.  Queen Mathilde of the Belgians was in palest baby pink for her introductory visit in February 2014.  Mathilde chose a 1950s inspired outfit, in the style of the New Look, complete with pale pink pillbox hat for her trip to the Elysee Palace.  It was one of her most striking looks and won her fashion praise across the continent.

Queen Mathilde is pretty in pink for her visit to the Elysee Palace 

And pill box was the hat style chosen by Maxima of the Netherlands when she became the first queen to visit Paris in 2014.  Her trip, in January, saw her in blue but her hat was palest blush pink - setting the colour theme for the royal visits throughout the year.

Queen Maxima in blue and pink for her visit to Paris in January 2014

Queen Letizia is known as a bit of a trend setter so it remains to be seen whether she follows the choice of other royal visitors to Paris when she sets foot in the City of Light and becomes the fourth queen to visit Paris in 2014.

400 years of friendship

It's easy to take old friends for granted but there's no chance of that in Amsterdam this weekend where the Dutch Royal Family has given a big welcome to the King and Queen of Sweden on a visit that celebrates 400 years of diplomatic relations between their two countries.

The king and queen who popped in for tea - King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima welcome King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia to Amsterdam

In 1614, Sweden signed a treaty with the States General establishing cordial relations between the two countries and allowing Swedish diplomats to set up an embassy in what is now the Netherlands.  It was Sweden's first overseas embassy and the royal visit, which lasts two days, marks the beginning of a fifth century of friendship between the two coutries.

T

The King and Queen of Sweden were met by the Dutch monarchs on their arrival in Amsterdam

After a reception at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the two kings went to a seminar about the role of Sweden and the Netherlands in the global economy while the two queens visited a complex of homes in Hogeweyk for older people who have dementia.

Queen Silvia of Sweden meets some of the residents of a complex of homes in Hogeweyk for people with dementia

There was also a stroll through the streets of Amsterdam for the royals with a chance to chat to wellwishers while King Willem-Alexander pointed out some of the highlights of the city.

A spring walk in Amsterdam for the monarchs of Sweden and the Netherlands

After a brief break, there was a state banquet where the group was joined by Princess Beatrix with a photo call ahead of the meal.

A royal quintet as the Dutch and Swedish families pose ahead of a state banquet

And just to show that, even after 400 years, the two countries are still friends there were plenty of toasts and warm words exchanged as the banquet progressed.  Just proving that long lasting friendships are among the most valuable.

Friendship among the splendour - King Willem-Alexander gives a speech at a state banquet for the King and Queen of Sweden

A palace full of leaders

You know what it's like.  You spend weeks waiting for a world leader to pop in for a cup of tea and then fifty or so all turn up at once.  King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands have been playing host to presidents, prime ministers and premiers for almost a week now after a string of visits and it all culminated with a dinner for dozens of global powers in The Hague.

That big staircase was bound to come in handy one day - the King and Queen of the Netherlands with their guests who just happened to be fifty or so world leaders gathered in The Hague for a summit

The Dutch monarchs were holding a dinner at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague for the leaders attending the Nuclear Security Summit taking place in the city this week.  The leaders, including Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, lined up for an impressive group photograph after lots of individual snaps with the king and queen.  And Willem-Alexander has more hosting duties as the summit continues while his neighbouring new king, Philippe of the Belgians, is getting ready to receive Barack Obama who will be in Belgium in the coming days as part of the commemorations leading up to the centenary of the start of World War One.  And then the Dutch monarchs might just have a moment to put their feet up after a week packed full with a year's worth of visits from world leaders.  

La vie en rose

One queen, one princess, one colour.  The royal families of the Netherlands and Denmark have welcomed foreign presidents on state visits this week and in both cases, one of their leading ladies has chosen pale pink for the big gala dinner.  Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was the first royal in the pink as she attended a state event for the President of Turkey during his visit and then at the end of the week, Queen Maxima was in the same shade of palest rose for the dinner given in honour of the President of China and his wife as they visited the Netherlands.

Queen Maxima, along with King Willem-Alexander and Princess Beatrix, welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on a state visit 

They're not the first to choose the pastel shade for a major outfit as Queen Mathilde of the Belgians was well ahead of the royal pack on this one, choosing a rose coloured outfit for her visit to Paris earlier this year.  It seems that the trend for Europe's royal ladies is to live la vie en rose.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at a state dinner for the President of Turkey in March 2014

Going for gold and silver and bronze

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands seemed to love every minute they spent at the Winter Olympics in Sochi so it's no surprise that they are keeping the flame of the Games alive back home in The Hague.  Today the king and queen held a reception for the winners of the twenty four medals their country brought back from Russia.

More to celebrate for medal winners from the Netherlands as they get a royal reception from their king and queen at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague

Willem-Alexander had presented one of the eight gold medals won by his fellow citizens as well as one of the bronzes and Maxima had cheered plenty of winners from the stands.  And today they sealed the celebrations with a right royal reception and kept the Olympic spirit alive just a little bit longer.

Royal support for Winter Olympics stars

The gold medal for royal support at the Winter Olympics 2014 at the moment is with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.  The royal couple has been perhaps more high profile than their country's athletes as the Sochi Games get under way. After lots of waving from the stands at the opening cermeony, the king and queen have now given us bicycling in the Olympic park, tea in the Olympic village and big excited grins at the ice skating.  They are running rings around other royals at the event.

Willem-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands get very excited about the ice skating in Sochi

Albert and Charlene of Monaco are putting in the royal support hours as well with plenty of appearances at different events around Sochi.  But while Albert is all smiles, he might be telling one too many stories of the time he was an Olympian as Charlene has looked a little distant at times.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Winter Olympics in Sochi

Princess Anne is still at the Games as is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg while the Norwegian and Swedish royals are expected to arrive later in the next few days.  But they are going to have their work cut out when it comes to regal flag waving.  Willem-Alexander and Maxima are looking strong in gold medal position at the moment.

Have bikes, will travel - the king and queen of the Netherlands on their tour of the Olympic village.  

A queen's coat and arms get everyone talking

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands can be forgiven for forgetting to put her arms through her coat.  She's had a busy week on the European heads of state front.  The Dutch king and queen started the week with a major state visit on home soil and have ended it with a brief trip to another European country for the day.  And on both occasions, the queen's arms have taken centre stage.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrive in Rome for a one day visit to Italy.  They were greeted by the country's president, Giorgio Napolitano.

First of all, the consort and hubby, Willem-Alexander, played host to the President of France.  Francois Hollande, sans Valerie Trierweiler, had been due to visit the Netherlands for a while but arrived with a media storm about his private life in his wake.  Queen Maxima pulled one of her finest fashion moments out of the bag for the occasion and by the end of his visit all anyone wanted to talk about was her sleeves.

Francois Hollande looks relieved as he realises that the sleeves on Queen Maxima's dress will keep everyone talking long enough to avoid any more questions about his private life

And then on January 23rd 2014, the king and queen paid a one day introductory visit to Italy where the queen decided to wear her coat draped over her shoulders.  She looked very stylish and the outfits is one of her best yet.  But it can't have been easy balancing a coat on royal shoulders while greeting another president.  But it did mean that Maxima ended the week as she began it - with everyone talking about her arms.

Queen Maxima does effortlessly stylish draping in Rome

Named after a queen

Back in the 16th century, anyone who was anyone - or anyone who wanted to be anyone - had a tendency to name their little bundles of joy after the king and queen of the day.  Which is perhaps how Henry VIII came to be married to three Catherines.  The first made the name queenly again after the blush causing conduct of the first Queen Catherine of England.  And before the princess from Aragon was dispensed with, she ruled Henry's court for over twenty years meaning that a certain Miss Parr and then Miss Howard found themselves named in her honour before her honour was pulled apart in courts across London as her husband attempted to make his dishonourable intentions towards another woman honourable.  But nowadays, it's far rarer for a queen to get a nod at the font.  In fact, just one queen consort of Europe has a descendant who bears her first name as their own first name.  The rest have to make do and mend with middle mentions.

Sofia the second.  The Prince and Princess of Asturias named their youngest daughter after Felipe's mother, Queen Sofia of Spain, making her the only consort in Europe with a descendant carrying her first name as her own

Sofia, queen of Spain has had plenty of unhappy family matters to deal with in the past few years but before the turbulence really hit she became the only consort to be honoured with a namesake when her only son named his youngest daughter after mum.  The Infanta Sofia will probably never be queen regnant of Spain but she will ensure that granny's name lives on in royal circles.  Queen Silvia of Sweden came close when her eldest child put the consort's name second in the list chosen for her own firstborn child, the future queen regnant.  But Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary takes her own name with her into the history books.

Queen Silvia of Sweden with Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary, the future ruler of the country, on the occasion on Carl XI Gustaf's 40th jubilee in September 2013

Queen Sonja of Norway has four grandchildren but not one of them got her name anywhere in their own.  And the same is true of Queen Paola of the Belgians.  She has six granddaughters but none of them has Paola anywhere in their names.  But her eldest grandchild, Prince Amadeo, does.  The full name of the baby born in February 1986 before Paola became queen is Amadeo Marie Joseph Carl Pierre Philippe Paola Marcus d'Aviano and that's before his titles are added on.  The former Belgian queen is unique in having a male descendant named in her honour.

Queen Paola of the Belgians has a grandson, but no granddaughter, named after her

The new queen of the Netherlands, Maxima, shared her name with her youngest daughter in the middle mix.  Princess Ariane Wilhelmina Maxima Ines was born in 2007.  Her big sister, and new heiress to the throne, was given the name of the country's then queen regnant on her own arrival and was christened Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria.  The former queen of the Netherlands also saw her eldest grandchild given her first name as a middle name on her birth in June 2002.  Countess Eloise Beatrix Sophie Laurence is now fifth in line to the throne of the Netherlands.

The 2013 Christmas card of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands shows her with all her grandchildren including future queen, Catharina-Amalia, and eldest granddaughter, Eloise, who both have granny's name as one of their middle names

Perhaps most surprising is the absence of Elizabeth as a first name among the British royal family.  The three children of Elizabeth II who had daughters made sure that one of them had mum's name as a middle name and the Queen's second great granddaughter also has the regal moninker hidden away.  But there are no Elizabeths as first names anywhere near the throne.  Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, Princess Royal had Zara Anne Elizabeth before Prince Andrew named his eldest child Beatrice Elizabeth Mary and Prince Edward name his first born Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary.  Peter Phillips' youngest child is Isla Elizabeth but unless Zara Tindall surprises us all and has a little Betty all of her own in a few weeks' time, there could be a long wait.  Unless the much speculated upon second pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge produces a Princess Elizabeth for the royals for the first time in almost 90 years.

Royal round up, week ending November 30th 2013 - Belgium and the Netherlands

A round up of all the news from Europe's royal houses for the week ending November 30th...the focus now on Belgium and the Netherlands

Belgium

 

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians held a reception on November 27th 2013 for members of the B-Fast team who had been to the Philippines to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan earlier in the month.  The members of the team - the Belgian First Aid and Support Team, set  up in 2000 to offer overseas emergency help - met the king and queen at the Laeken Palace.

 

 

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were joined by Belgian prime minister, Elio di Rupo, for the reception at the Laeken Palace on November 27th 2013 for members of the overseas emergency help team, B-Fast

 

The rest of the king's week was taken up with audiences.  On November 25th he held his regular meeting with prime minister, Elio di Rupo, who also attended the B-Fast reception later that week.  On November 29th 2013, King Philippe met the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at the Royal Palace in Brussels and later that same day the king held an audience with Belgium's employment minister, Monica de Coninck.  And Queen Paola made just her second public appearance since her recent operation when she attended a concert in Brussels on the afternoon of November 30th organized by the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and Equinox. 

 

 

Queen Paola of the Belgians at a concert in Brussels on November 30th 2013

 

Princess Astrid spent most of the week in India on a trade visit where she carried out a series of engagements to promote Belgian business.  The trip, from November 23rd to November 29th, was made on behalf of the king and the princess was accompanied by several ministers.  And Prince Laurent and Princess Claire attended the 25th annual Caius de Promethea awards in Brussels on November 27th which celebrate cultural and architectural achievements.

 

 

Princess Astrid of Belgium writing in the visitors' book at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, in New Delhi during her five day visit to the country.  The memorial commemorates70,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War One fighting for the British army

 

 

The Netherlands

 

 

King WIllem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were present at the start of a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the modern kingdom of the Netherlands.  On Saturday November 30th they visited the spot at Scheveningen where Prince William Frederick of Orange landed on November 30th 1813, eighteen years after his father, William V, had fled to England to escape the French invasion.  Later on November 30th 2013, the king, queen and former queen, Beatrix,  took part in ceremonies in The Hague before the whole royal family attended the annual Kingdom Concert at the Circus Theatre.   

 

 

 King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima take centre stage at the end of the concert held on November 30th 2013, the day the Netherlands began two years of celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the formation of this kingdom

 

Earlier in the week, the king and queen had hosted a symposium at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on the genetics and the secrets of the human genome.  Princess Beatrix was also present at the event, one of two lectures organized every year by the Royal Palace Foundation.  On the same day, King Willem-Alexander was at the Nooreinde Palace in The Hague to receive the credentials of the new ambassadors form Japan and Lesotho.  Willem-Alexander's engagements for November 27th also included receiving a copy of the first permanent stamp to bear his image as a king.  The event took place in The Hague.

 

 

 The first stamp bearing the image of Willem-Alexander as King of the Netherlands was unveiled in The Hague on November 27th 2013

 

On November 28th, King Willem-Alexander was in Nieuwegen to see the work of a night school offering support to adults who need help with language and learning.  On the same day, the king attended the jubilee conference of  the Aedes Housing Association where he heard speeches and debates on issues including care and the price of housing.

 

 

 King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands at the housing conference in ’s-Hertogenbosch he attended on November 28th 2013 to mark the 100th anniversary of Aedes - an association of

housing associations

 

On November 29th the king held a farewell audience with the outgoing Turkish ambassador, Z.E. Uğur Doğan, at the Eikenhorst Villa in Wassenaar.  And later that same day he was back in Amsterdam, at the Nieuwe Kerk, to receive copies of the new biographies of his predecessors on the throne of the Netherlands, Kings William I, II and III.

 

 

 King Willem-Alexander receives biographies on three earlier Dutch kings at a ceremony in Amsterdam on November 29th 2013

 

Queen Maxima was in the Schipol district of Amsterdam on November 26th 2013 where she opened the new barracks of the Royal Military Police in the district - the building has been named after her.

 

 

The queen of the Netherlands opens the Queen Maxima Barracks in Schipol on November 26th 2013

 

On the dame day, Princess Beatrix attended the jubilee conference of PUM - an organization which channels voluntary work from managers and businesspeople in the Netherlands to areas of the world where expertise is needed.  It took place in Rotterdam.

 

 

 Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands at the conference held to mark the 35th anniversary of the foundation of the PUM organization.  The event took place in Rotterdam on November 26th 2013

 

New kings on the block

There's always one friend who will never quite let you get away with anything.  If you get a new car, they get one a few months later.  If you move, they find themselves upping sticks not long afterwards.  You become king of your country following the abdication of a long serving monarch, they grab a crown of their own a few months later.  We got to see the newest crowned heads in Europe together for the first time today - and let's not split hairs about neither of them actually having a coronation.

 

The king and queen of the Belgians drop in for coffee with the king and queen of the Netherlands.  Luckily, they rang ahead so everyone had their best clothes on

 

Queen Maxima and Queen Mathilde made up for that with some pretty spectacular hats for their indoor chat.  The meeting marked the end of the introductory tours that both couples have been undertaking since then took over their country's monarchies earlier in the year.  Willem-Alexander and Maxima finished their getting to meet you tours of the European royal houses three weeks ago while Philippe and Mathilde completed their Joyeuses Entrees into major Belgian towns and cities a week ago. 

 

 

Leading politicians were also present at the meeting between the kings of Belgium and the Netherlands at the Noordeinde Palace on November 8th 2013

 

And with this brief meeting between old friends, it was almost as if the introductory periods of their respective monarchies came to an end.  Pretty soon, Willem-Alexander and Maxima were off to Moscow for their first major state visit since becoming monarchs and Philippe and Mathilde return home to a full agenda.  After the excitement of the handover from one era to another, the pageantry of the ceremonies and the writing of chapters in the history books, the day to day duties of being king and queen now rule once more in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

 

The Dutch tour of Europe

The new Dutch king and queen have finished their tour of European royal courts where they've been introducing themselves as monarchs for the first time.  The tour has been dotted amongst their other engagements over the last few months and started back in June before coming to an end on October 14th 2013.  They kept things simple at every turn with a spot of lunch with the royals before an afternoon chat with leading politicians.  Here's a look back at how the new Dutch monarchs said hello to some familiar faces.

 

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands on their first introductory tour - Luxembourg.  They met the Grand Duke, Henri, and the Grand Duchess, Maria Teresa, on May 24th 2013 at the Grand Ducal Palace. 

 

 

The next stop was Denmark on June 25th 2013 where they had lunch with Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik at the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen

 

The visit to the UK was slightly shorter with a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on July 10th 2013

 

 

The first visit after the summer break was to Spain on September 18th 2013 where the royal couple had lunch with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid

 

 

King Harald and Queen Sonja welcomed Willem-Alexander and Maxima to the Royal Palace in Oslo on October 2nd 2013

 

 

The last stop on their tour was Sweden where they spent the day on October 14th 2013, starting with lunch with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Royal Palace in Stockholm

 

Earlier in the summer, the Dutch Royal House said it would announce a visit to Belgium after the long holiday.  But with their fellow new king and queen on the block in the middle of their Joyeuses Entrees around their own country, it might be some time before these good neighbours and friends get to say hello to one another officially for the first time since their respective successions.

The peachy queen

The new king and queen of the Netherlands have finished their tour of the royal courts of Europe which they've undertaken to mark their accession.  Last stop on this very posh city break was Stockholm where they met King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Royal Palace.

 

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima with the Swedish monarchs and Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel on October 14th 2013

 

As is usual on these trips, the Dutch monarchs had lunch with their fellow royals before heading off to meet leading politicians including Swedish Prime Minister, Frederik Reinfeldt. They also visited the Swedish parliament.  And Queen Maxima ended her royal tour all peachy with a blush coloured top and dark brown skirt.  The monarchs who started their reign in the spring are now heading into their first winter as king and queen.

 

 

Prince Carl Philip wanders into shot - he attended the lunch held for the Dutch king and queen

 

More royal hellos for Dutch king and queen

The new king and queen of the Netherlands are continuing their 'pleased to meet you as a monarch' tour of Europe and the latest stop is Norway where they have been spending the day with the royal family and leading politicians. 

 

Two kings, two queens - Willem-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands and King Harald and Queen Sonia of Norway on October 2nd 2013 in Oslo

It's not the first time the new king and queen have met Harald since their accession but their last day together was much sadder.  The Norwegian king was godfather to Willem-Alexander's late brother, Friso, and attended the prince's funeral in August.  But today was a much happier occasion and began with a big hello at Oslo airport where they were greeted by the Crown Prince and Princess before heading off to the Royal Palace where they found King Harald and Queen Sonia just hanging about hoping they'd pop by.  They'd asked along some children from the Dutch school in Oslo to add to the welcome.

 

Willem-Alexander and Maxima are greeted by children from the Dutch school in Oslo on their arrival at the Royal Palace on their getting to know you visit

 

A quick photo session with the royals was followed by meetings with the Prime Minster, Jens Stoltenberg, and the president of the Norwegian parliament, Dag Terje Andersen.  And then it was back to the palace for lunch and a new order membership for Maxima who was presented with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav by King Harald.  But there will be no jealous glances on the way home - Willem-Alexander received the same honour in 1996.

 

 

The Norwegian king and queen with their heirs and the king's sister, Princess Astrid, at their meeting with the Dutch king and queen on October 2nd 2013

 

Just one more trip to go for the new Dutch king and queen before their tour is over.  Their last stop will be Sweden on October 18th 2013.

Whiter shades of pale

The King and Queen of the Netherlands were all technicolour brightness yesterday for the state opening of parliament but today it's pale and interesting for the Dutch monarchs as they make another of their getting to know you trips to their fellow royals around Europe.  Spain is the latest on their regal whistlestop city break tour and things got off to a pastel showdown on the runway as the Prince and Princess of Asturias met them on their arrival on the country.  Queen Maxima went for baby blue while Letizia was in white with a sparkly belt and matching clutch handbag. 

The King and Queen of the Netherlands with the Prince and Princess of Asturias

 

And staying with the theme of hair, after Willem-Alexander's unfortunate encounter with a pair of blunt scissors while trimming his fringe, it seems the problem is catching on in Spain with Princess Letizia looking like she forgot to brush her long locks before stepping out on to the runway.  Queen Maxima went for a semi swept up look that stayed put throughout.  She might need to have a chat with them both over the lunch at the Zarzuela Palace which King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will host.

The king's speech

I know it's not the most important thing about a new monarch giving his first speech at a state opening of parliament and quite possibly not even the least important, but who cut the king's hair?

 

Queen Maxima wonders whether she should have used a better pair of scissors for tidying up Willem-Alexander's fringe for their first state opening of parliament

 

Princesses and the ageing process

All the future queen consorts of Europe, bar one, have now reached that big event that is their 40th birthdays.  Only Kate is still waiting for her fourth decade and as she is queen consort in waiting behind a princess consort in waiting it all gets very confusing.  So sticking with the royal women who are next in line to wear a crown - or who have just got one - who did best at marking the milestone that is turning 40?

Nine years and counting - the Duchess of Cambridge has almost a decade to go until her 40th birthday

(Tom Soper Photography)

 

There's one common theme among celebrations for the big day and that's a nice set of glossy photos to mark the occasion.  It's not surprising given that one of the main jobs for princes and princesses now is handling their media appearances.  And a good set of pictures is an easy way to let everyone cover the event without too much intrusion.  First to turn 40 was the new queen of the Netherlands.  Maxima was still Princess of Orange when she celebrated her fortieth in May 2011 and appeared in several official portraits including business like, in evening wear and showing off a tiara.

Maxima at 40 - one of the official photographs released to mark the then Princess of Orange's big birthday

 

Next on the list was Mary of Denmark who reached the milestone in February 2012 and again chose to pose in informal and formal wear.  Lots of outside shots and some posing on a desk in very worklike mode completed the set.

 

 

Future queen of Denmark, Mary Donaldson, goes for some office based photos for her 40th birthday

 

As in so many areas of their lives, Mary and Letizia of Spain co-incided on the 40th birthday celebrations.  Their engagements had been announced within days of one another, their weddings happened with just a week between them and baby Christian arrived a fortnight ahead of little Leonor in October 2005.  The Princess of Asturias turned 40 in September 2012 and issued a mega set of photos to mark the occasion where she posed by herself and alongside husband Felipe and their two girls.

 

 

A princess pretty in pink - Letizia in one of the photos released to mark her 40th birthday

 

The two princesses who were first to marry their princes were the last of the lot to turn 40.  Mathilde of Belgium married Philippe in 1999 but was the penultimate princess to make the big birthday when she celebrated her 40th anniversary in January this year.  Again there were plenty of poses to mark the day although there were criticisms about photoshopping on the images until the snapper said that there was no digital magic involved.  Her elevation to Queen of the Belgians is sure to be the bigger talking point for 2013.

 

 

One of the 40th photos for Queen Mathilde - still Duchess of Brabant at that point she was hit by criticisms of photoshopping on the snaps, denied by the photographer

 

And last of the ladies awaiting a crown to make 40 is Mette-Marit whose big day is August 19th 2013.  She married Haakon in 2001, almost two years after Mathilde and Philippe's wedding and six months before Maxima said 'I do.'  The photos for her big day also celebrated her husband's fortieth birthday as he made the milestone a month before his wife.  And again lots of photos of the children completed the set

 

 

Double celebrations as the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway both turn 40 in the summer of 2013

 

And in September 2013, the only prince consort in waiting marks his 40th birthday.  Prince Daniel of Sweden turns 40 on the same day his father-in-law, King Carl XVI Gustaf, marks his 40th anniversary as king.  That's a lot of balloons with 40 on them for Queen Silvia and Princess Victoria to get ready.