By Alita Singh
AIRPORT/PHILIPSBURG--Crown Prince Willem Alexander co-piloted the private jet that brought him, his mother Queen Beatrix and his wife Princess M�xima to St. Maarten for a much anticipated one-day visit on Thursday.
Throughout the day, the royals were greeted by elated crowds. Their first taste of St. Maarten's enthusiasm and friendliness was just as the motorcade heading from the airport to Philipsburg entered the main drag of Simpson Bay.
Pupils of Sister Regina Primary School, their teachers, residents, workers and tourists gathered to wave Dutch and St. Maarten flags. The motorcade slowed for well wishers to get glimpses of the royal visitors. Residents and school children gathered in small and large groups intermittently throughout the route.
The white aeroplane with its orange and blue tail touched down at approximately 10:25am at Princess Juliana International Airport, named for the sovereign's late mother, and cruised up to the red carpet on which Governor Eugene Holiday, his wife Marie Louise and Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams waited to officially welcome the royal party.
The queen, wearing a blue and gold outfit and matching hat, was the first to exit and shake hands with the waiting local officials, followed by Princess M�xima in a coral and beige dress and matching hat, the crown prince, Dutch Minister for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Piet Hein Donner.
Walking to the end of the red carpet, the royals and local officials stopped as the Dutch military officers played the "Wilhelmus" the Dutch national anthem. The Philipsburg Community Brass Band then continued with the St. Maarten Song.
The queen then inspected the honour guard of the Dutch marines and Voluntary Corps St. Maarten officers. Upon her return to the red carpet, she and the princess received bouquets of flowers from Naomi Kemble of Oranje Primary School and Tyrese McBeneCourtar of St. Joseph Primary School.
Before leaving the airport tarmac, the royals were introduced to President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, Chairman of the National Organising Committee for the Royal Visit Keith Franca and other officials.
Arriving in Philipsburg, the royals had a brief meeting with the governor in his office at Harbour View before heading to the Government Administration Building where they were again greeted by pupils of various primary schools who shouted "welcome royal visitors" and a large gathering of onlookers.
The always smiling queen, the crown prince and the princess waved to the well-wishers before going into the building with Wescot-Williams for a meeting with the Council of Ministers.
No royal visit is complete without a wave from a balcony and the Dutch royals did not disappoint when they appeared on the balcony of the administration building with local officials and the visiting Dutch minister. The pupils again raised their voice to wish the sovereign well. They cried out, "Long live the queen and the royal family."
The royals head to St. Eustatius today, Friday and to Saba on Saturday. They return to St. Maarten in the evening for a dinner hosted by Governor Holiday before returning home on Sunday.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/22236-friendly-welcome-for-royal-visitors-.html
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