Prince Johan Friso has died

Prince Friso, his wife, Princess Mabel and their daughters.

Prince Johan Friso, Prince of Oranje-Nassau and younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, has died on Monday, 12th August, 18 months after he was left brain-damaged by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

The Royal Family's webside published a statement.

"His Majesty the King announces with great regret that this morning His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg, died at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, aged 44."

"Prince Friso died from complications as a result of oxygen shortages during his ski accident on 17th February 2012 in Lech, Austria."The Prince had "minimal consciousness" and his condition was unchanged, the palace said. "The royal family warmly thanks all those who looked after prince Friso for their outstanding and dedicated care," the statement said.

Prince Friso was in July transferred from a hospital in London, where he lived in Wellington Hospital since March 2012, to the residence of his mother, former Queen Beatrix, in The Hague. Despite the Prince's ill-health, his death came unexpectedly.

His wife, Princess Mabel, tweeted just hours before the announcement her thanks for birthday messages, after she turned 45 on Sunday.

State broadcaster NOS showed archive footage of the Prince as a child and a young man after his death was announced, as tributes poured in.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was to end his holiday early and return to the Netherlands on Tuesday, said that "despite everything this news still comes as a shock. Prince Friso remains in our minds as a man with broad interests who always put his multifaceted talents at society's service," Rutte said in a statement.

He sent his condolences to Prince Friso's widow and children, as well as to his mother, Princess Beatrix.

The mayor of the Austrian resort of Lech, where Prince Friso was swept away by the avalanche, expressed his condolences.

"As somebody who, like many Lech residents, had known the prince ever since he was a kid, I am personally shocked and deeply moved," Ludwig Muxel told the Austria Press Agency.

"My utmost sympathy and that of all the people of Lech goes to Princess Mabel, her children, Princess Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and all their relatives."

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Queen Máxima charms Germany

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima today arrived in Berlin to begin their first visit to Germany. The royal pair were greeted by Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin at the beginning of their two-day visit. The visits to both Hesse and Baden-Württemberg had been planned ahead of Queen Beatrix's abdication. However, the itinerary was extended to include a first official visit to Berlin as head of state for Willem-Alexander. In both states, the royal pair were to meet German and Dutch entrepreneurs.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Ma1xima and Angela Merkel.

Germany was not the first state visit they paid to a foreign nation. In May King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visit their relatives in Luxembourg. Until 1890 the King of the Netherlands was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg. But Luxembourg did not recognise female succession and when Queen Wilhelmina inherited the throne from her father, King Willem III in 1890, Luxembourg received the former Duke of Nassau as new Grand Duke Adolph I. Ironically King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima left Berlin for Wiesbaden, today the capital of the German state of Hesse, but until 1866 the residence of the Dukes of Nassau. When the Prussian annexed Nassau in 1866 they could not have thought, that the Prussian dynasty would lose their throne, but the rulers of Nassau would still be sitting on a throne today.

On Tuesday, the couple - and a delegation representing Dutch business - will continue on to Baden-Württemberg. Like in Hesse, the royal couple could walk on the footsteps of their ancestors: Princess Sophie, daughter of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg, married Dutch King Willem III in 1839 and became Queen of the Netherlands. Unfortunately all three sons born to the royal couple died before they could succeed their father as King of the Netherlands. After Queen Sophie's premature death in 1877, King Willem III married Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, a small German principality and today also part of the state of Hesse, on 7th January 1879. She was 41 years the King's junior. In 1880, Princess Wilhelmina was born. She became heiress presumptive in 1884 after the death of the last remaining son from William's first marriage. Many potential male heirs had died between 1878 and 1884. Because Queen Wilhelmina had not yet reached adulthood, Dowager Queen Emma became regent for her daughter. She would remain regent until Queen Wilhelmina's eighteenth birthday in 1898. Queen Wilhelmina reigned until 1948 and is King Willem-Alexander's great grandmother.

The schedule for the visit to the Hesse state capital of Wiesbaden included a reception with state premier Volker Bouffier, who faces an election this September and certainly appreciates a little bit of royal glamour. Also on the itinerary was a visit to a memorial to William the Silent, the founding father of the Dutch royal family who had strong links with Hesse.

A visit to the Opel car factory at Rüsselsheim is planned for Tuesday, along with engagements near Stuttgart at machinery and laser firm Trumpf and the University of Hohenheim.

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Celebrating the new Dutch King in Australia

The Kingdom of the Netherlands might be half way around the globe, but those Australians who want to join in the celebration for the "inhuldiging" of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have a good chance in the next couple of days.

As the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canberra states on its website (see above), it will remain closed on 30th April, the actual day of Queen Beatrix' abdication. The Consulate-General in Sydney will also not open its door.

But where are the bulk of the Dutch settlers? Right, most immigrants from the Netherlands came to Victoria. And if you live in or around Melbourne, you have a marvellous chance to meet Dutch enthusiasts who will celebrate the accession of the new King and Queen of the Netherlands. In Carnegie, the Abel Tasman Dutch Club will open its doors on 30th April.  From 5 pm onwards, the club will offer live viewing of the inauguration of the new King.

Live viewing of the Abdication of Queen Beatrix @ the Dutch Club Abel Tasman on 30th April.

And what is more: Abel Tasman - Dutch Club Melbourne invites to the "very first Koningsbal in Melbourne" on 3rd May at 8 pm.

Abel Tasman - Dutch Club

60 Rosstown Road, Carnegie

Melbourne, Victoria, 3163

Tel. (03) 9755 5725

Email info@dutchclubabeltasman.com.au

Website http://www.dutchclubabeltasman.com.au

And to prove that Melbourne is the heart of the Dutch community in Australia, this Sunday, 28th April, the city saw the 9th Dutch Orange Day at Queensbridge Square on Southbank "to celebrate the last Koninginnedag (Queens Day) - next year will be Kings Day - and the succession to the throne: Queen Beatrix to King Willem-Alexander".

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