The Dutch King Willem-Alexander has paid tribute to the victims of the Malaysian air crash.
The 47-year-old royal offered his "deepest sympathies" to the families of the victims who died when flight MH17 crashed in Ukraine after taking off from Amsterdam on Thursday(17.07.14).
It is believed 189 of the 298 people on board the Malaysia Airlines flight were Dutch, including Aids researcher Joep Lange and the Dutch Labour party MP Willem Witteveen, leaving the King "deeply shocked", reports The Guardian.
He said: "We offer our deepest sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims and to those who are still uncertain if their loved ones were on board the plane."
Britain’s Prince William also offered his condolences to victims in a speech during the unveiling of a statue to the first man to identify Australia as a continent, at Australia House in London on Friday (07.18.14)
William, 32 – who is second-in-line to the British throne – said: "I know that I speak for all of us here when I acknowledge our deep sadness following yesterday’s disaster in the Ukraine. For all of us who have lost fellow countrymen and women in the tragedy, words cannot do justice to our sense of loss."
The crash – which has killed at least six Britons – comes just four months after Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpar to Beijing on March 4, with 239 people suspected to be dead.
The prince added: "The crash is a particularly cruel tragedy coming so soon after the loss of MH370.
"Please be assured of my family’s thoughts and prayers at this time."
Dutch King sends condolences to air crash victims
