Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Máxima are on a four-day state visit to Germany. They arrived at Tegel Airport in Berlin on Tuesday morning. The Dutch royals travelled on to Bellevue Palace, where they were officially welcomed by German President Christian Wulff and his wife, Bettina.

German and Dutch flags were flying outside the palace, the official residence of the German president. The queen, the crown prince and princess signed the guestbook in the reception hall, which had been decorated with bouquets of red, white and blue flowers, the colours of the Dutch flag.

Outside, Queen Beatrix inspected a guard of honour in the pouring rain. “What wonderful weather we’re having”, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander jokingly told a group of Dutch children drummed up to cheer the royal visitors.

(gsh/mw)

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