Eye on the ball! King Felipe of Spain and King Willem

Release time：2024-05-01 07:09:47 Source：Culture Connection news portal

King Felipe of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands dared to show their sporty sides today as they joined a group of young boys on a basketball court in Amsterdam. 

Despite being dressed in suits and ties with leather brogues, the two royals were eager to show off their skills and even took turns trying to score a basket. 

The  pair were visiting Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Foundation, which helps children with special needs access sports, on the first day of the Spanish royals' visit to the Netherlands. 

For King Felipe and King Willem-Alexander, the fun continued on the football pitch where the pair could be seen kicking a ball between them as the youngsters looked on.

The two kings appeared at ease on the sports fields and seemed to be enjoying themselves in spite of the rain, which soon soaked their smart suits. 

King Felipe of Spain on the basketball court at Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Foundation, which helps children with special needs access sports

And, keen to show their support for the children's football team, the royals joined the pre-match huddle and gave high fives to the players. 

King Felipe looked typically dapper in a navy suit and bright blue tie while King Willem-Alexander opted for a pale blue tie. 

The outing took place on the first date of the Spanish royals' state visit to the Netherlands.  

Earlier in the day, Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands were photographed looking equally elegant at a welcome ceremony on Dam Square.

Set in front of the majestic Dam Palace in Amsterdam, Letizia, 51, joined Maxima, 52, on the first official day of her state visit to the Netherlands. 

The visit is set to reinforce the friendship between the two royal houses as Spain's Letizia and King Felipe meet with Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands. 

For today's event, Letizia opted for a simple yet chic blue tweed dress with statement-flared sleeves.

The mother-of-two added a touch of glamour to the outfit with a caramel-coloured headpiece and a pair of lavish diamond and emerald earrings.

Next, it was the turn of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. He was focused on the basket while the youngsters looked on

The two royals were keen to show off their football skills on the pitch - and the coach looked impressed

King Felipe (left)  looked typically dapper in a navy suit and bright blue tie while King Willem-Alexander looked equally smart in his suit, opting for a pale blue tie

Keen to show their support for the children's football team, the royals joined the pre-match huddle and gave high fives to the players

The royals appeared at ease and comfortable in each other's company. They seemed as happy to be playing sports as the children 

Meanwhile, Maxima opted for an all-red ensemble, complete with a blouse fit with a shawl and a stylish A-line midi skirt.

Maxima extended the red theme to her accessories with the stylish additions of red leather gloves, a wide-brimmed crimson hat, and a small but sleek leather clutch bag.

The pair appeared in high spirits as they engaged in light conversation on Dam Square as crowds cheered them on while clutching Spanish flags. 

Demonstrating the close nature of their relationship, Maxima kept her hand around Letizia's back while guiding her through the square.

Elsewhere, King Felipe of Spain, 56, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, also 56, joined their wives at the welcome ceremony.

It comes after Queen Letizia of Spain put on an elegant display as she attended a reception in Amsterdam after landing in The Netherlands yesterday.  

The mother-of-two, 51, looked typically stylish in an off-the-shoulder top and stunning satin Hugo Boss skirt for the occasion at the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace Hotel. 

She joined her husband King Felipe VI for the reception, which was held for the Spanish community residing in The Netherlands.

Queen Letizia of Spain (left) and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (right) looked equally chic as they attended the welcome ceremony on Dam Square

Letizia opted for an all-blue ensemble on the second day of the state visit, complete with a belted tweed dress and a matching leather bag 

Maxima placed her arm across Letizia's back as she guided the royal through Dam Square in Amsterdam 

The pair appeared in high spirts as they engaged in light conversation with one another at the ceremony 

After wearing a smart suit to catch her flight earlier in the day, Letizia showed she was able to master any style by swapping into her elegant eveningwear. 

The royal looked picture perfect in her trendy two-piece outfit, and her enviable skirt retails as 6000 euros on the brand's website. 

She added a chunky black belt to accessorise, which helped emphasise her stunning figure.  

The visit is set to reinforce the traditional friendship between the two royal houses as Letizia and Felipe will meet with Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander. 

And the first stop in their busy official agenda was the reception in Amsterdam for the Spanish community residing in the Netherlands. 

The meeting was chaired by the king and queen themselves, while Felipe gave a speech to praise the people of his country. 

Queen Maxima looked elegant in a striking red outfit. The royal continued the red theme with the addition of a crimson hat and leather gloves 

Elsewhere, King Felipe of Spain (left) and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (right) looked dapper in crisp navy suits 

The sun was shining in Amsterdam as the royal households joined for the first official day of Spain's state visit 

Earlier in the day, the royal couple were honoured with an impressive farewell ceremony at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport before boarding their flight. 

They were welcomed by various guards as they received the honours, at which Francina Armengol, president of the Congress, was also present. 

Letizia herself looked typically elegant in a simple and discreet Hugo Boss suit, adding a touch of glamour and silent luxury even to air travel.

The European royal kept it simple with the navy two-piece design and white T-shirt, adding a pair of Massimo Dutti kitten heels. 

Meanwhile her husband King Felipe looked stately and composed in a grey suit ahead of their two-day visit to Amsterdam and The Hague. 

Letizia added a pair of stunning diamond and emerald drop earrings to complement her chic outfit 

The royals greeted members of the public who crowded in Dam Square while clutching onto Spanish flags 

Letizia, Felipe, Willem-Alexander, and Maxima looked regal as they stood in front of the crowds 

Letizia opted for a simple makeup look for the occasion, revealing her natural beauty and bronzed complexion 

The couple boarded their VIP-configured Airbus A310, which is used to transport the royals to official state events and also between their primary palatial residence in Madrid and their summer home in Mallorca.

The aircraft, emblazoned with text reading 'Reino de Espana' (Kingdom of Spain), will take them to the Netherlands in time for an evening meal.  

Spain and the Netherlands have maintained diplomatic relations as far back as 1648 and work closely together in areas such as strategic economy and organised crime, while economic ties between the two countries are also strong. 

On Wednesday, Letizia and Felipe are set to be officially welcomed by the Dutch King and Queen in Dam Square in Amsterdam, and the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy will play the national anthems of both countries. 

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