Dutch royals pay tribute to Australia's veterans

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to honour the service of Australian troops.

Dutch King and Queen at the Australian War Memorial Source: SBS Radio

Netherlands King and Queen have paid tribute to the service of Australian soldiers at a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were greeted by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for the commemoration.

Queen Maxima placed a red poppy along the Memorial's Wall of Remembrance and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

They also met with Dutch and Australian veterans including diggers who had served alongside Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan's Urozgan Province.

Both Queen Maxima and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop were attired in bright orange outfits, a colour synonymous with the Netherlands.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the Australian War Memorial Source: SBS Radio

Also during their visit to Canberra, the royal couple met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy at Parliament House, laying sunflowers at the memorial for the victims of the MH17 crash.

The King and Queen are continuing their national tour tonight in Sydney to attend a special performance at the Sydney Opera House.