HM's congratulatory messages to the Netherlands, Sweden

HIS MAJESTY the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to send congratulatory messages to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of Netherlands on the occasion of Queen's Day and His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on his 62nd birthday today.

His Majesty also sent separate congratulatory messages to Netherlands' Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson.

In the messages, His Majesty expressed his satisfaction with the warm and friendly relations of Netherlands and Sweden, and further hoped that the relations would be strengthened for the benefit of the countries.

The monarch further extended his wishes to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf to remain in good health and happiness, as well as for the people of Netherlands and Sweden to enjoy continued progress and prosperity.

In similar congratulatory messages to the Netherlands and Sweden's Prime Ministers, His Majesty congratulated both premiers on the occasion of Queen's Day and the Swedish king's birthday.

His Majesty also wished both prime ministers continued good health and happiness.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade sent congratulatory messages to his counterparts Maxime Verhagen and Carl Bildt, foreign affairs ministers for Netherlands and Sweden respectively. "I am very pleased with the warm relations which exists between our two countries and look forward to working with you to continue strengthening our people's friendship and the cooperation we share bilaterally and as partners in the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) and the Asean-EU Dialogue," said His Royal Highness to Verhagen.

In his message to Bildt, His Royal Highness also expressed pleasure between Brunei and Sweden's relations and said he looked forward to future opportunities to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Queen's Day is celebrated as a national holiday in the Netherlands to commemorate the birthday of the late Queen Juliana, who died in 2004.

It is on this day that every city and town in the country transforms itself into a sea of orange, as it represents the House of Orange, which is the name of the current Dutch Royal Family.

King Carl XVI Gustaf became Sweden's head of state in 1973 at the age of 27 and married Queen Silvia in 1976. (HAN1)

The Brunei Times