Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander is a licensed pilot who can fly Boeing 737
Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix will be among the royal attendees for Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral.
Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on September 8th at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle.
The Queen, who was 96 at the time of her death, was the second longest-reining monarch in the world after France’s Louis XIV.
Her Majesty’s coffin was brought to Buckingham Palace on September 13th, as per the BBC.
In the coming days, thousands of mourners queued up at London’s Westminster Hall to pay their respects to their monarch. Among those waiting in line was former footballer David Beckham, who reportedly waited 12 hours in line on Friday, September 16.
The Guardian reports that the Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19th, will be attended by 2,000 guests, and Her Majesty will be buried next to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor in a private ceremony.
Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage
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A look at King Willem-Alexander’s early life
King Willem-Alexander was born in 1967 to Princess Beatrix and diplomat Claus van Amsberg. He has two younger brothers – Prince Friso (1968-2013), and Prince Constantijn (1969).
The future King went to Nieuwe Baarnse School in Baarn for his primary education and did his secondary schooling in Baarns Lyceum, as per RoyalHouse.
He gained an International Baccalaureate in 1985, after which her performed his military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy until 1987.
Once his military service was completed, Prince Willem enrolled in the Arts Faculty of Leiden University and studied history. The future king gained an in-depth knowledge of Dutch history, economy, politics, international law and human rights among other subjects through his studies.
He wrote his dissertation on the Dutch’s response to France’s President de Gaulle’s decision to leave NATO.
After graduating in 1993, the Prince became a licensed Military Pilot of 334 Transport Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
After that, it was time for the future King to prepare for his reign. He began visiting European institutions, Dutch ministries as well as the High Councils of State. He also underwent a Development Programme at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA.
The future King also equipped himself with the knowledge of water management, infrastructure, ICT, sports and defence.
With years of intensive training behind him, Prince Willem-Alexander was ready to ascend the throne.
Photo by Reuter Raymond/Sygma via Getty Images
His Majesty learnt how to fly the Boeing 737
In 2002, 11 years before his investiture, Prince Willem married Princess Maxima. The couple first met at Spain’s Seville Fair in 1999.
RoyalCentral states that Prince Willem kept his royal status a secret when he first met Maxima Zorreguieta. The future Queen thought he was joking when he first revealed his identity. The couple’s relationship flourished and they got engaged in 2001.
They finally tied the knot in February 2022 and their first child, Princess Catharina-Amalia, (now Princess of Orange) was born in 2003.
The couple has two other daughters – Princess Alexia, born in 2005, and Princess Ariane, born in 2007.
After decades of preparation for his role, King Willem ascended the throne on April 30, 2013, after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated her throne. He also became the President of the Council of State.
Besides his royal duties, the King of the Netherlands has a passion for flying.
In 1985, he secured his Private Pilot’s Licence, which was followed by his Commercial Pilot’s Licence in 1987.
In mid-2017 the monarch trained to fly the Boeing 737 aircraft.
Who are dignitaries attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
BBC notes that the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey is expected to be one of the biggest single ceremonial events in England since WWII.
Her Majesty will be the first monarch whose funeral services will be held in the Abbey in 262 years.
Among the attendees will be Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix, Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja, Sweden’s King Carl and Queen Silvia and finally Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who have all accepted the invitations.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II are also expected to arrive at Westminster Abbey.
The World leaders in attendance will be US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, the European Commission head President Ursula von der Leyen and UK’s newly elected Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
Queen Elizabeth II has sadly passed away – HITC
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Queen Elizabeth II has sadly passed away – HITC
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