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Father-to-be Prince Albert beams with happiness as he joins King Willem-Alexander and Maxima for dinner

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It wasn't hard to guess what the main topic of conversation was likely to have been as Prince Albert of Monaco joined the Dutch royal family for dinner.After the happy announcement he is to welcome his first child with Princess Charlene, congratulations were surely on the menu – as well as a few parenting tips – from his hosts.

prince albert© Photo: Rex

Father-to-be Prince Albert with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

The principality leader's sunny disposition was hard to miss as he arrived at the Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. He was welcomed warmly by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima – who kissed him on the cheek. The Argentine-born royal was resplendent in a one-shouldered gown in vibrant green, and accesorised with gold shoes, a silver clutch and a glittering tiara.

queen maxima© Photo: Rex

The Dutch royal couple posing with Princess Beatrix

As parents-of-three, Maxima and Willem-Alexander no doubt had plenty of parenting advice for father-to-be Albert. But the tips would be particularly pertinent if the forthcoming arrival turns out to be a pink bundle of joy – since the couple's brood is made up entirely of girls; ten-year-old Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, eight and seven-year-old Ariane. There's no word on whether Charlene is expecting a baby girl or boy. All that is known is that the new arrival is expected at the end of the year. The baby won't be short on playmates after a recent baby boom in the Grimaldi family. Prince Albert's niece, Charlotte Casiraghi, welcomed a baby boy, named Rafaël, in December 2013 with French comedy actor Gad Elmaleh. The Monagasque royal's nephew Andrea Casiraghi also welcomed a little boy earlier that year. Little Sacha is Andrea's first child with Colombian heiress Tatiana Santo Domingo.

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