MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AFP) - President Felipe Calderon on Tuesday welcomed Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to Mexico at the start of the Dutch royal's five-day visit to the country.

Calderon welcomed the queen at a ceremony in Mexico's National Palace, where he will host a dinner in her honor.

The queen arrived just before midday for a trip that will include meetings with Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, according to a schedule released by the Dutch embassy here.

Queen Beatrix is also scheduled to visit Mexico City's famous National Museum of Anthropology and participate in a meeting on energy.

The royal will spend the last two days of the trip visiting the Mexican states of Guanajuato and Hidalgo.

The queen is accompanied by Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, and his wife Princess Maxima.