The flight of the "lad that's born to be king, " as the wistful "Skye Boat Song" has it, became the stuff of brooding legend, novels and of shortbread-biscuit tins.
The five-minute song - Koningslied in Dutch - was due to be performed in the presence of the new king and queen on the day of Willem-Alexander's swearing-in at 19:30 (17:30 GMT).