It’s a most exciting time when reigning monarchs come together. Besides a coronation or royal wedding, a state visit is often one of the rare occasions we get to see the extravagant displays of the monarchy.
According to the official Danish royal website, a state visit is carried out by members of a royal family.
It aims to establish and strengthen the social and commercial relationships between the two countries.
While it may be business as usual for them, we can’t help but look on in awe at the elegance and poise the working royals show while performing their official duties.
Continue reading to keep up to date with the latest state visits between royals.
The Spanish Royals visit Italy, December 2024
Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain have landed in Italy for their two-day State Visit.
The Royal couple were officially received on December 11 by Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome.
That evening, a traditional gala dinner was held at the Quirinal Palace in honour of the couple’s visit. Seated at the head table was the Italian President, Sergio Mattarella and his wife. Both Sergio and King Felipe addressed the room with a formal speech.
The following day, Their Majesties attended The Federico II University of Naples in honour of their 800th Anniversary. During this event, King Felipe was awarded an Honorary Degree in Social Sciences by the University.
The Emir of Qatar and his wife visit the UK, December 2024
On Tuesday, December 4, 2024, King Charles, Prince William, and Princess Catherine attended the official welcome ceremony held on Horseguards Parade for the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, to the UK.
Noticeably absent was the King’s wife, Queen Camilla, who is still recovering from a form of pneumonia.
Following the ceremony, the British Royals joined their guests in a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace for lunch. Queen Camilla joined them.
As is tradition, a State Banquet was held in honour of the Emir of Qatar and his wife on the first evening of their visit. The guest list included other dignitaries, politicians and working members of the royal family.
King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Samoa, October 2024
After their tour of Australia, King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Samoa on October 23, 2024.
The royal couple were received by the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa before being transported to their accommodation.
His Majesty was in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It was his first as head of the Commonwealth.
The next morning, King Charles and Queen Camilla were honoured with an ‘ava ceremony at the National University of Samoa.
Falelatai Village community members participated by presenting the royals with a special ceremonial drink as well as a whole pig.
Following this, Charles attended the launch of the new King’s Commonwealth Fellowships Program. He greeted students of the University along the way.
The Danish Royal family visit the Danish Islands, August 2024
King Frederik and Queen Mary kicked off their final summer voyage of 2024 aboard the Danish royal family’s yacht Dannebrog.
The couple started their four-day cruise at Rønne Harbour on Bornholm. This island is renowned for its scenic fishing towns and villages.
While there, Frederik and Mary visited Rønne Theatre, Denmark’s oldest theatre, and a church.
The couple also hiked through the forest from Ekkodalen to Hareløkkerne before inviting guests for a reception aboard Dannebrog.
The King and Queen then travelled to the island of Ærø. While there, they visited Voderup Klint before again inviting guests to a reception on board Dannebrog.
Frederik and Mary have finished up their four-day royal visit to Vejle.
The royal couple were officially received in Vejle on August 22. They were met by the youngest and oldest members of Kong Gauers Gård, a nursing home cross-daycare promoting interaction between children and the older community.
To finish the day their Majesties visited Fjordenhus, a building on the harbour designed by Olafur Eliasson.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Colombia, August 2024
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially kicked off their four-day tour of Colombia on August 15, 2024.
Vice President, Francia Márquez, and her husband Yerney Pinillo welcomed the couple at her official residence in Bogota.
After their reception, Harry and Meghan visited the charter school Colegio Cultura Popular. While there, they spoke with students regarding the impacts of social media on their well-being.
To finish their first day in Bogota, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a colourful performance at the Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata, the National Centre for the Arts.
On the second day of their visit, the Duke and Duchess attended the Colegio La Giralda school. Here, they continued to speak on the importance of social well-being in education. They visited classrooms to brush up on their Spanish and were welcomed with a traditional Colombian dance by the students who wore traditional colourful attire.
That afternoon Prince Harry stopped in to the Centro de Rehabilitación Inclusiva where the Colombian Invictus Games team were training.
On the third day of their South America trip, the couple travelled to a new city, Cartagena. Here they visited the Escuela Tambores de Cabildo, a drum school where they were given a performance and even partook in a lesson themselves.
Stepping away from the city, Prince Harry and Meghan visited the first free African town in the Americas in 1619, San Basilio de Palenque. They were welcomed with a ceremony, song and speeches. Following this, Vice President Francia Márquez gave a heartwarming speech to show her gratitude for their acceptance of her invitation.
“I wanted them to come here and discover the essence of who we are — our spirituality, our music, our culture and our ancestral heritage that is still very much alive today. In the midst of adversity, this is what has helped us continue to be resilient. Palenque is in the heart of every Afro-Colombian.”
To wrap up their four-day visit to Colombia, the Duke and Duchess visited the city of Cali.
They attended the Municipal Theatre for an Afro-Colombian female-focused discussion. They were also treated to a musical performance by Cynthia Montaño. After this, Meghan took to the stage for a frank discussion regarding the importance of young women having their voices heard. The Duchess of Sussex then removed her earpiece to the audience’s delight and began addressing the room in Spanish.
King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Scotland, July 2024
Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Scotland for their official visit.
On day one the pair were received with a traditional Ceremony of the Keys in Edinburgh. The Lord Provost offers the King the keys to the city as a welcome sign.
Following the ceremony, King Charles held a special investiture ceremony for the people in Scotland who have been honoured with a medal. During this time Queen Camilla took the opportunity to host a literacy event in celebration of Scotland’s history. The event was held at The Palace of Holyroodhouse. Here, the Queen mingled with bookshop owners, authors, and representatives from the Scottish Book Trust.
That afternoon, in the garden of The Palace, Their Majesties welcomed over 8000 people to the grounds for a Garden Party.
The Danish Royal family visit Greenland, June and July 2024
From June 29 to July 6, King Frederick X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent make their official trip to Greenland.
Their state visit began in Disko Bay, where the family travelled with the royal yacht Dannebrog along Greenland’s west coast.
On the second day of their trip, the Royal family stopped in Qeqertarsuaq. It is Greenland’s largest island and the location of an Arctic research station.
In the days following, Their Majesties stopped in the town of Attu where they met and spoke with locals about the town’s history. King Frederik then unveiled a memorial for the town’s 200th anniversary.
Following Attu, the four royals disembarked in Sisimiut the second-largest city in Greenland. They visited the local museum to explore the historical Inuit winter houses and hunting grounds.
The King and Prince later visited Sisimiut’s dog town where they learnt about their sustainable production of dog food and their dog sledding.
The Japanese Emperor and Empress visit the UK, June 2024
The Emperor and Empress of Japan arrived in the UK on June 22. The couple disembarked their flight at Stansted Airport, greeted by the Japanese Ambassador, Hajime Hayashi.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the scheduled visit of Emporer Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan to the UK would go ahead as planned from June 25-27 after the recently announced election taking place in July meant the royals would pair back public-facing commitments
The official programme began on June 25, with King Charles and Queen Camilla welcoming the Emperor and Empress at the Horse Guards Parade. Here, they were escorted in carriages to Buckingham Palace. Prince William was also in attendance to officially receive the guests.
An official State Banquet took place that evening where the dress code included some of Britain’s finest jewels. Along with Their Majesties, the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also in attendance. As well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince William.
King Charles made a toast to the two nations’ ties to one another and their deep-rooted relationship.
“For over four hundred years, our nations have inspired each other, learning from each other’s experience and enriching our industries, cuisines and cultures with elements borrowed and shared.”
The Emir of Qatar visit the Netherlands, June 2024
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani of Qatar were officially welcomed by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands at Noordeinde Palace in the Netherlands.
The Emir of Qatar was there for a one-day official visit to continue strengthening the bonds between the two nations.
The meeting addressed areas of sustainability, food, maritime, and water. According to an official statement released after the meeting, the visit was deemed successful and marked ” a significant milestone in the longstanding and friendly relations” between the countries.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II And Queen Rania visit France, June 2024
President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his wife Queen Rania to France.
Taking lunch at the Elysee Palace in Paris, the four sat to discuss the restrictions on the delivery of aid to Gaza.
Afterwards, King Abdullah and President Emmanuel reiterated their stance in a joint statement on an “immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza”. They condemned the violent acts and called for the release of all hostages.
The Jordanian Royals will continue their visit privately once their official business has been completed.
The Dutch Royals visit the USA, June 2024
From June 10 to June 13, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will visit the United States of America. Their trip focused on the states of Georgia and New York.
The royal couple touched down in Atlanta on June 9, disembarking an official Dutch government plane.
On their first day in Georgia, Their Majesties met with Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp at the Georgia State Capitol.
Along with other Dutch officials, they discussed the economic relationship between the US state and the Netherlands with a focus on sustainable logistics. The King and Queen then visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Afterwards, they visited the urban redevelopment program BeltLine, accompanied by the Mayor of Atlanta.
On the evening of the first day, the Dutch Royals attended Atlanta’s High Museum of Art. At the time of the royal visit, the Dutch Art in a Global Age exhibition was showing. This was followed by an official reception where King Willem-Alexander is thought to have made a speech.
The second day of their visit saw the Dutch royals walking around the famous streets of Savannah.
They were first received by Mayor Van Johnson at City Hall. Afterwards, they relocated to the Historic District where representatives of the Savannah College of Arts (SCAD) gave them an official tour. The afternoon concluded with their attendance at Savannah State University. While there, they conversed with students and attended a seminar on sustainable port development at the Port of Savannah.
The Danish royals visit Norway, May 2024
On the second stop of their first tour since their ascension to the throne, King Frederik and Queen Mary arrived in Oslo, Norway.
The royals were greeted by Queen Sonja and King Harald V of Norway.
3Other senior royals to welcome the Danish couple were Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
On day one Queen Mary and Frederik’s schedule saw them attending the Bird Room of the Royal Palace. Here, they exchanged gifts and posed for an official portrait to commemorate the state visit.
Following this, an official welcome ceremony was held to commence their visit. The pair then attended a ceremony at the National Monument with the President of the Norwegian Parliament Masud Gharahkhani. They then visited Oslo Science City where they were suited up and were shown the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory.
That evening, Their Majesties were joined by other senior Norwegian royals and dignitaries at a gala dinner. The event was made extra special with May 14 marking the 20th anniversary of their marriage.
Queen Mary dazzled in a lavender evening dress that was a reworked Birgit Hallstein Couture gown she first wore in 2015 to the wedding of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden.
The next day, the pair were joined by Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit as they travelled by subway to walk the Ulsrudvann Lake.
The foursome then met with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and other parliamentarians at Akershus Fortress and finished the afternoon with a walk along the harbour in Oslo as they observed the Norwegian-Danish solutions for future urban spaces, as well as sustainable and community architecture.
The Danish royals visit Sweden, May 2024
King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark embarked on their first royal state visit since their ascension to the throne
The reigning couple arrived in Sweden on May 6 and were greeted by Their Majesties, Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as they disembarked the royal Barge Vasaorden.
Sweden marks the couple’s first state visit in a larger tour of the Northern region. Queen Mary and King Frederik will stop in Norway from May 14-15, followed by the Faroe Islands and Greenland in June and July.
During their visit, Queen Mary and King Frederik met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and other parliamentary officials. They also took some time to attend the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology, where they spoke with a group of astronauts including Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
To commemorate the historic occasion, a white-tie banquet was held at Stockholm Palace. The royals took the opportunity to bring out their most formal attire, along with their personal collections of dazzling royal jewels.
On their final day, King Frederik planted a young apple tree in front of the Nordic Museum, while Mary symbolically watered the sapling.
The Spanish royals visit The Netherlands, April 2024
Queen Letizia joined her husband King Felipe VI of Spain on a state visit to the Netherlands from April 16-18.
The royal pair were fondly greeted with an official welcoming ceremony by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. The foursome are known to share quite a close friendship, and spirits seemed to be high during their stay.
As usual for an official state visit, a banquet was held in Amsterdam at the Royal Palace on the first evening. While the event was held in honour of their guests, it marked another historical moment for the Dutch Royals as their eldest child, Princess Amalia, made her State Banquet debut.
The following day consisted of the Queens visiting mental health and community groups, and the Tuschinski Theater for the 10th anniversary of the Spanish Film Festival in Amsterdam. Meanwhile, the Kings attended a soccer match at the Johan Cruyff Foundation for children with disabilities.
6The four reunited on the final day at the Straat Museum for street art and graffiti, for an official reception offered by the King and Queen of Spain to the Netherlands.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg visit Belgium, April 2024
In April of this year, the Grand Duchesse Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg made a three-day state visit to Belgium from April 16-18.
The Grand Ducal couple were welcomed by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the Royal Palace before setting off on their rather full agenda.
Their schedule began at the Grand Place and City Hall where they waved from the balcony and mingled with the crowds.
Of course, the Belgian royals pulled out all the stops with a lavish gala at the Palace of Laeken on the first evening. Both the Grand Duchess and Queen dazzled in historical jewels and tiaras, and the Grand Duke and King in their official uniforms.
The four made official visits to political and community organisations as well as stopping in at the Palais du Prince Eveque, to sign the golden book.
7Upon their departure, the Grand Duchesse and Grand Duke of Luxembourg farewelled the growing crowds at the Place Saint-Lambert.
