PHILIPSBURG:--- His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and wife Queen Máxima will begin their first visit to the Dutch Caribbean Islands as King and Queen on Nov. 12, 2013, with St. Maarten being the first stop. St. Maarten Governor, His Excellency Eugene Holiday will host the Royal Couple.
A welcoming ceremony with honor guard will take place at the Cyrus Wathey Square in the front of the Court House on Front Street on Nov. 13, followed by a brief meeting with the governor, a welcome by the President and members of the Parliament of St. Maarten, an interview with Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and a gathering with the Council of Ministers.
After the official welcome, the Royal couple will visit Milton Peters College and Raoul Illidge Sports Complex to meet with the winners of the Kingdom Games, followed by a "monument walk" through Front Street in the afternoon highlighting the Oranje School, Methodist Church and Court House. The day will close with entertainment in the Festival Village in Philipsburg. Entertainment will include musical performances by local artists and musicians including Tanny & The Boys, Ebony Steel Orchestra, Gunslingers, Percy Rankin and The Bonfire Band. There will also be dance performances by various schools and poetry by the One Poet Society. The day of celebration will end with fireworks around 9:00 pm. The general public is invited to attend the activities at the Festival Village.
The King and Queen will then travel to Saba, St. Eustatius, Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba, with the Royal visit wrapping up on Nov.19, 2013.