Diamonds, Brexit and poached sole – a right royal banquet in London

DutchNews, October 24, 2018

Queen Elizabeth II makes a toast during the banquet. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire via HH

‘Like being in an episode of The Crown’ is how NOS correspondentTim de Wit described Tuesday night’s state banquet in London for king Willem-Alexander and queen Maxima, hosted by Britain’s queen Elizabeth. 

De Wit was the only Dutch journalist at the event at Buckingham Palace, and had been invited by the British royal family’s press office, at the suggestion of the Dutch ambassador in London. 

‘I was sitting as far away from the queen as you can get, but it was great to hear her make a speech,’ De Wit said after the dinner, for around 170 guests. 

In her short speech, queen Elizabeth, who is traditionally apolitical, spoke about Brexit for the first time, telling Willem-Alexander that ‘as we look toward a new partnership with Europe’, the values shared by the UK and the Netherlands ‘are our greatest assets’, the Daily Mail reported. 

Earlier the Dutch king had told MPs and members of the House of Lords that British nationals in the Netherlands and Dutch nationals who live in the UK, deserve special attention now the UK is leaving the EU. 

‘One group deserves special attention: the 50,000 British nationals who live in the Netherlands, and the 150,000 Dutch nationals who live in the UK,’ the king told his audience, which included British prime minister Theresa May. 

‘Yet all these individuals now live under the shadow of uncertainty about their future status. I understand how difficult this is for them and I trust that this uncertainty will be resolved,’ Willem-Alexander said. 

Jewels 

The Telegraaf was keen to point out that queen Maxima was wearing the fabled Stuart diamond, a 46 carat stone last worn in public 46 years ago by queen Juliana on her state visit to Britain. 

Hare Majesteit Koningin Elizabeth en De Prins van Wales en en Hunne Majesteiten Koning Willem-Alexander en Koningin Máxima in de Music Room voorafgaand aan het staatsbanket op Buckingham Palace. #NetherlandsStateVisit pic.twitter.com/eX9wKztwZl

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 23, 2018

RTL Nieuws, however, concentrated on the food. Poached sole with champagne sauce to start, followed by tenderloin of beef with ‘some spinach, green beans and braised red cabbage on the side’. 

No-one will have gone thirsty, the broadcaster noted, as each place setting had five glasses and six different wines were served.