On the evening of Monday, May 12, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands welcomed the Diplomatic Corps for a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. The dinner is held annually to maintain and strengthen international relations. It also serves as an opportunity to connect Dutch and foreign representatives around a specific theme. This year’s dinner was themed around art and culture.
In addition to around 140 foreign representatives based in the Netherlands and Brussels, approximately 70 leading figures from the world of arts and culture were also invited.
For this year’s diplomatic dinner, Dutch Queen Máxima wore a richly embroidered gown by Jan Taminiau. Queen Máxima first wore this Jan Taminiau gown on Prinsjesdag in 2010, and later wore it again during the state visit to Qatar. Queen Máxima also wore Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands' Antique Pearl Tiara.
The Antique Pearl Tiara was commissioned by Queen Wilhelmina between 1900 and 1910, based on the design of a similar tiara belonging to her grandmother, Queen Anna Pavlovna, who had been Queen of the Netherlands between 1840 and 1849.
Queen Wilhelmina wore the Antique Pearl Tiara in a portrait and in a few rare photographs over the years, but it remained her personal property until her passing in 1962, later entering the Orange-Nassau Family Foundation. Princess Beatrix became the primary wearer of the Antique Pearl Tiara from the late 1950s and continued to wear it regularly after her accession to the throne in 1980.
Queen Máxima has worn the Antique Pearl Tiara quite regularly in recent years — at the Chinese State Banquet in 2014, the Diplomatic Corps Gala Dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in 2019, during the Dutch State Visit to Austria in 2022, and most recently, during the French State Visit to the Netherlands in 2023.
Queen Maxima looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLove the color scheme along with the pearl tiara. The dress is a dream, I think! Two first pictures are unusual for the NL couple - they usually always look happy, but not here, serious and almost troubled!! But in later pics Maxima cracks up in her usual way! The King ought to shape up a bit, shave and get a decent haircut to look cleaner. My opinion only! Carina
ReplyDeleteAgree !!
DeleteI think there is definitely something wrong with most pictures. A new (not so good) photographer ? Mx's dress looks quite good, as well as the jewelry. Faces do not look relaxed as usual.
DeleteAgree please let him shave off his beard and moustache. They have 2 colours red and grey. It makes him so old and gives him a shabby look. Lots of men including him would look so much better without
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ReplyDeleteYou do not have the correct name, perhaps you are referencing Beatrix, who in my option is aging exceptionally well. She has class and grace and not concerned about altering her look to give the illusion of youth.
Delete00:08 why be mean about another human? All of us can have a photo taken that doesn’t show us in the best light - but none of us has to be mean. Helen - can you remove this comment?
DeleteWrong name!! Wilhelm was the name of the German emperor!
DeleteNow this is an ill fitting dress and far too bleak.
DeleteHer hair was much better when she joined the military training in the morning.
Lovely dress. They look tired, but given what is happening in the world today who wouldn’t. They have a hectic schedule and do a fantastic job along with being parents. All are dress nicely.
ReplyDeleteMaxima is wearing a dress from Jan Taminiau she wore o Prinsjesdag 2010 !!
ReplyDeleteWhat I always admire in the Dutch royal family is that their jewelry is well looked after. Old tiara's, bracelets, necklaces look like they are new. I know they regularly have changes on some of the old jewelry, or let jewelry that cannot be worn anymore like in the old days transform into rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc... An example is the "devant de corsage" like they call it in The Netherlans = very big brooches that were worn by Queen Emma and other ancestors.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit messy, I don’t like this hairstyle with the tiara. The platform shoes make me smile, so Maxima….
ReplyDeleteWhy platform shoes , Q M is already tall! Nice hair and dress!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is getting really disgusting, how people comment on human beings' bodily characteristics and signs of ageing. It is possible to say that one does not like it - but not that King's beard or hair or whatever looks ungroomed (what he sure is not). And again and again: "looks old" used synonymously with looking in a way that the commenter does not like. This takes all the pleasure of talking about outfits!!! and fashion!!! (not about age or bodily composition in a deprecating manner) in this otherwise nice blog - time and again I stop following it because it is simply just one thing: too stupid. A pity that our admin tolerates this.
ReplyDeleteTrès belle robe qui épouse à merveille sa silhouette ; par contre, je dis carrément non pour les chaussures !
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