King Willem-Alexander is to make his first state visit to the UK since ascending the throne. He and Queen Maxima will visit Queen Elizabeth in London on October 23 and 24.

The royal couple were invited to tea at Buckingham Palace in July 2013, a few months into Willem-Alexander’s reign, for an introductory visit. Willem-Alexander’s personal links to Britain go back further, having attended school in Wales for three years and obtained his international baccalaureate there.

The king and queen will be accompanied in London by foreign affairs minister Stef Blok in what the government information service said was a visit that ‘reconfirms the special relationship between the Netherlands and the UK as “North Sea Neighbours”.’