Spring means the first round of State Visits for the new year and the royal diary is already beginning to fill up with planned tours. The trips are always designed to further co-operation between the countries involved although they also provide an opportunity for plenty of pomp and ceremony. Royal Central will keep you updated with all the planned trips over the coming months. Here’s a round up of the State Visits we can already expect in 2020.
March
The King and Queen of the Netherlands are off to Indonesia at the beginning of March. They will spend four days in the country at the invitation of its president, Joko Widodo, arriving on March 10th and ending their visit on March 13th.
During that time, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will visit Jakarta as well as Yogyakarta in Java and the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. The focus of the State Visit is future co-operation between the Netherlands and Indonesia with a particular spotlight on the economy, the environment and science.
Their neighbours and very good friends, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, will also be on their travels this March. The royal couple are set for a State Visit to Italy.
Philippe and Mathilde will be hosted by the Italian president, Sergio Matterella. The Belgian King and Queen will arrive in Rome on March 23rd 2020 for a three day State Visit.
April
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will return to the White House in April but this time for a State Visit. The couple will be the guests of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for two days.
Felipe and Letizia are due to arrive in Washington on April 21st for a two day trip, the first State Visit by royalty hosted by the Trumps since they entered the White House in 2017. Details of the trip haven’t been confirmed yet but the focus will be on the historic relationship between Spain and the United States as well as looking to build consensus on major issues.
Springtime in Windsor
There are no dates as yet but the Emperor and Empress of Japan will be visiting the United Kingdom on a State Visit this Spring. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will be guests of the Queen at Windsor Castle in their first State Visit since their enthronement last autumn.
Royal Central will bring you all the details of these State Visits as they unfold.
