Netherlands King Willem-Alexander, queen visit Chicago hospitals, school as part of US tour

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, right, shakes hands with Fidel Carabez, as King Willem-Alexander smiles, after a demonstration of Carabez's robotic exoskeleton body suit during the King and Queen's visit to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee) (The Associated Press)

prev next

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, right, talks to Terry Karpowicz, left, and a staff members at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago how Karpowicz's robotic leg functions during a visit by the monarchs Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee) (The Associated Press)

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, left, watch Terry Karpowicz, right, and an unidentified staff member at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago demonstrate the functions of Karpowicz's robotic leg during a visit by the monarchs Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee) (The Associated Press)

CHICAGO – The Netherland's King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have visited two medical institutions and a high school in Chicago as part of a multiday U.S. trip.

The Dutch royals visited Lurie Medical Research Center on Wednesday to promote a research collaboration between Northwestern University and institutions in the Netherlands.

The king and queen shook hands with professors who'll be part of the program.

They also visited the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, to see the work the center is doing in robotics, and paid a visit to Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, where they took part in a picnic and seminars on urban farming.

It's Willem-Alexander's first official U.S. visit since becoming king in 2013. The trip began Monday in Washington with a meeting with President Barack Obama and a stop at Arlington National Cemetery.