Donald Trump and Melania Trump welcome Dutch royals to White House

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to the White House on Monday.

The Dutch royals arrived in Washington, D.C. just after 7pm for a working visit that included a formal dinner.

The meeting follows a significant stop in Philadelphia earlier in the day, where the King, 58, and Queen, 54, were greeted by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

The royal couple toured Independence Hall and viewed the Liberty Bell as part of the ongoing American 250 celebrations marking the country's milestone anniversary of independence.

A highlight of the journey involved King Willem-Alexander co-piloting the aircraft that brought the delegation to Philadelphia on Sunday.

An accomplished pilot with multiple licenses, the King has frequently served as a guest pilot for KLM Cityhopper.

However, according to his royal biography, this month marks his final flight in that capacity for some time, as he must undergo further training to transition to the new Airbus A321neo fleet.

The King has previously described flying as the "most relaxing" part of his duties, allowing him to focus entirely on the safety of his passengers and crew.

The Dutch visit serves as a high-profile precursor to the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla, scheduled for late April.

This will mark King Charles' first state visit to the United States since his accession to the throne. President Trump, who expressed great respect for the British monarch, confirmed that a state dinner is scheduled for 28 April.

Buckingham Palace stated that the upcoming visit will celebrate the "historic connections and modern bilateral relationship" between the two nations during this landmark 250th anniversary year.