On Monday, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and were with their three daughters in the Vatican where they were received by Pope Francis.

This visit was not on the official schedule of the king and queen of the Netherlands. It was in privately that Willem-Alexander and Maxima were received in audience this Monday, April 25th at the Vatican by Pope Francis. The unique photo immortalizing the meeting revealed that the royal couple was accompanied by their three daughters Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia Princess of Oranje, 12, Alexia, 10 and a half years, and Ariane, just 9 years. The three little princesses wore dresses and black tights. Queen Maxima was also black, in a long dress. Having left her blonde hair loose as his daughters, she had covered them with a black mantilla. Indeed, it is customary for Protestant countries of the queens dress in black when they come before the pontiff, only the Catholic queens may be blank.

This is not the first time that Maxima and Willem-Alexander are received at the Vatican by Pope Francis. While they were still Crown prince and Crown Princess, they had, like Letizia and Felipe of Spain attended March 19th 2013 on St. Peter's Square in Rome to the first solemn inauguration Mass of his pontificate, and had met on this occasion.

Photo Credit: Paris Match