Queen Elizabeth II hosts Dutch king and queen at palace — in pictures

• 

  Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II and Charles, Prince of Wales attend a state banquet at the Buckingham Palace in London. Yui Mok / Reuters

• 

  Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech during a state banquet at the Buckingham Palace, as part of King Willem Alexander's state visit to the UK. Yui Mok / Reuters

• 

  Queen Elizabeth II makes a toast with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, during a state banquet at the Buckingham Palace in London. Yui Mok / Reuters

• 

  Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech as Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Charles, Prince of Wales listen during a state banquet at the Buckingham Palace in London. Yui Mok / Reuters

• 

  King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall stand during a ceremonial welcome at the start of a state visit at Horse Guards Parade in London. Christopher Furlong / Reuters

• 

  King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands greets Queen Elizabeth II upon his arrival to inspect an honour guard during a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade in London. Matt Dunham - WPA Pool /Getty Images

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands ride the State Coach along the Mall in London. Simon Dawson / Reuters

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, centre, shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, right, on the dias as they take their places for a ceremonial welcome for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands on Horse Guards Parade in London at the start of the Dutch King and Queen's two-day state visit. Matt Dunham / AFP

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (unseen) ride together in the State Coach Britannia from a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade to Buckingham Palace in London at the start of the Dutch King and Queen's two-day state visit. Victoria Jones / AFP

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands arrive at Buckingham Palace in London. Peter Nicholls / Reuters

• 

  King Willem-Alexander, centre, and Queen Maxima, left, of the Netherlands, are greeted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade in London. Matt Dunham / AFP

• 

  Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May talks to Queen Elizabeth as they wait to greet King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at a Ceremonial Welcome during a state visit. Matt Dunham / AFP

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at a Ceremonial Welcome during a state visit. Matt Dunham / AFP

• 

  King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, right, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, arrive at Buckingham Palace after a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade in London. Peter Nicholls / AFP

• 

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands leave in a horse-drawn carriage after a ceremonial welcome during a state visit. Matt Dunham / AFP

• 

  British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Dutch King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands as Queen Elizabeth II looks on during a Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade. The last State Visit from the Netherlands was by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1982. Matt Dunham / AFP

The Dutch king and queen on Tuesday began a state visit to Britain that will include full ceremonial honours and a gala banquet.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands were welcomed Tuesday morning by Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Pavilion at Horse Guards in central London on a brisk fall day.

The king kissed Elizabeth on both cheeks and clasped her hands when they met. Maxima did the same when she greeted Elizabeth.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and several senior ministers also attended the welcome ceremony.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, escorted the Dutch royals from the Dutch embassy to the parade grounds and took part in the horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.

The queen plans to host a state dinner for her guests at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.

It is not clear if she will be joined by her husband Prince Philip, 97, who has largely retired from public life.

It is the third time the queen has hosted the Dutch royal family for a state visit. The most recent was in 1982.

________________________

Read more:

Prince Harry and Meghan bring British weather to drought-stricken Australian town

Prince Harry and Meghan spend time with a koala

Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is pregnant, Kensington Palace confirms