King Willem-Alexander was joined by his family on Saturday to celebrate Koningsdag, the annual event marking his birthday.
Although the King’s birthday falls on 27 April, if it lands on a Sunday, celebrations are shifted to Saturday. This year’s festivities coincided with the funeral of Pope Francis, meaning the Dutch royal family was unable to attend the service.
In a gesture of respect, the Koningsdag celebrations were delayed by an hour to allow for televised coverage of the funeral.
Joining the King were Queen Máxima, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia, Princess Laurentien, Prince Floris, and Princess Aimée, among other members of the royal family.
A Noticeable Absence
One family member, however, was missing from the celebrations — Princess Ariane, the youngest daughter of Willem-Alexander and Máxima.
The 18-year-old princess is currently studying abroad at United World College Adriatic in Italy and is likely focused on preparing for her upcoming final exams.
