King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands are paying a state visit to the Czech Republic at the invitation of President Petr Pavel. On the evening of June 4, President Pavel hosted a state banquet at Prague Castle in honor of the Dutch royal couple. During the ceremony, President Pavel conferred a state decoration on King Willem-Alexander and awarded Queen Máxima the First Class Order of the White Lion.
For the state banquet, Queen Máxima wore a red, one-sleeved gown by Jan Taminiau, featuring intricate embroidery along the edges. The Queen had previously worn this gown during King Willem-Alexander’s 50th birthday celebration and the 2017 state visit to Italy.
The tiara worn by Queen Máxima is part of the Dutch Mellerio Ruby Parure. The parure was commissioned by King Willem III in 1888 as a 30th birthday gift for Queen Emma from the renowned French jeweller Mellerio dits Meller, and designed by the famed Oscar Massin. The complete set includes a tiara, a pair of versatile earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, a stomacher, and a brooch, with 385, 425, and 151 gemstones respectively.
Maxima looks fantastic.She is not overdressed for a state dinner, but nailed the right tone for this one just perfectly. Her red gown is stunning and her jewellery is gorgeous. She wears this gown beautifully, and the beadwork is artistic without being over the top. The fit of the gown is spot on. The train is fine, but even if it had been omitted, the dress would be stunning.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, the Czech first lady looks a little underwhelming for a state dinner even though her dress is actually quite nice, but perhaps for a day-time state luncheon.
- Anon 9:13
Maxima should have left the tiara at home considering her state visit daytime sweater and no hat. she is so overdressed and overshadowing the Czech first lady.
Delete@Anon 12:54 Maxima wore a smart white lace dress and white hat for her state visit welcome by the Czech President. For travel and arrival the day before, when no officials were present only minor representatives, she can wear what she wants. As for the state dinner, one might take the view that the Czech first lady was under dressed for what was obviously a Black tie event. Do your research before you comment please.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Totally agree with Anon 9:13 on both comments. Maxima looks striking and not overdressed. Just take a look at other guests...
DeleteDamsel Dragonfly
Totally agree with Anon 9 13. Queen Maxima looks fantastic from head to toe. Superb
DeleteThe queen looks so pretty, just the right amount of beading on her dress. The first lady, yikes fabric roses on the sleeves, look odd. The colour is nice but it just looks like a house dress. The king looks tired.
ReplyDeleteThe king has a great deal on his mind.
DeleteAnon 15.27 planning his next vacation 😀?
DeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteI think the Czech First Lady didn’t have time to change out of her daytime dress.
ReplyDeleteIt is a black tie event!
Delete@ Anonymous 02:57
DeleteThe daytime dress of the Czech First lady was orange. This one is light blue.
@Anonymous 11:26 i think its a joke, that she is wearing a dress suitable for daytime and not evening state dinner/black tie
DeleteMaxime's dress is beautiful and of course the jewelry is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteFirst Lady: this length of dress doesn't suit her, it should have been longer, although I like the interesting detail on the sleeves. It's a pity she didn't bring out the beautiful red dress she wore when she met the Luxembourg royal couple.
PS. The view from Prague Castle is breathtaking..
Stephanie
This red off the shoulder gown looks sensational. Her jewel choice and the combination, I love, works perfectly. I love her up style hair, beautiful. The gown, is gorgeous love the design, it suits her well, the color is sublime.
ReplyDeleteDe vrouw van de Praagse president in een eenvoudige jurk, Maxima compleet overdressed in een miljoenen outfit..
ReplyDeleteAgree !!
DeleteIt's a state dinner, black tie. She is also a queen. She is dressed appropriately. The first lady is not dressed properly for the event. Her dress looks like something Sophie would wear to a horse track.
DeleteCette robe rouge pourrait être somptueuse mais je me rends compte que je n'aime pas qu'un seul bras soit couvert.
ReplyDeleteÉpoustouflante de beauté
ReplyDeleteFroufrou
The Queen looks stunning. The First Lady of the Czech Republic , very disappointing. She looks like she is going to a luncheon, a button through dress is not an evening or formal occasion as such.
ReplyDeleteMerveilleuse Maxima dans cette robe rouge mais je craque quand je la vois avec des bijoux comportant des rubis que j’adore ; grand dommage que ma bourse ne me permette pas de m'en offrir !
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Mrs President is underdressed, with the roses and with the glitzy-shiny little embellishments/buttons on her dress. She cannot and most probably would not want to be compared to a Queen with tiara and diamonds and whatnot - in my eyes, this would also not be appropriate for the wife of a President of a republic. - Máxima is simply breathtaking and I praise her to have chosen a definitely fabulous gown, but without that much glitz (on top of what glitz she has from the neck (included) upwards.
ReplyDeleteI am with you!
DeleteA Christmas tree next level. Totally hilarious
ReplyDeleteIndeed
DeleteWhat an odd comment.
DeleteDoes anyone know about the etiquette when visiting a republic?
ReplyDeleteI thought wearing tiaras is only done when nobility is hosting the event, but might be wrong.
Apart from that: Maxima looks stunning, be it that the amount of diamonds and rubies is a bit too much.
It largely depends on what is agreed upon beforehand in matters of dresscode, etc. When the protocol offices agree on White Tie and Orders, then the royals should (not have to!) wear tiara and all, even when the visit is to a republic. When protocol agrees on Black Tie, then the royal might wear tiara, but in all likelihood without orders/collars/sashes/etc. This is the point on which most royals would perhaps decide against a tiara when visiting a republic. When the dinner just requires cocktail attire/dark suits, then one would mostly go without tiara anyway.
DeleteThe funny thing is that some of the comments sound like Maxima must have dressed on a whim, deciding last minute to wear a tiara. All of these details are worked out months and months in advance of the visit. The level of formality and style of dress are not a surprise. If the Czech first lady considers her dress to be formal, that is a personal decision. She did add a metallic shoe. The rest of the women shown in the pictures look formally dressed.
DeletePresident Pavel could make beer commercials as ‘the most interesting man in the world’. 😏 dlh
ReplyDeletePresident Pavel is general of the army, former Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army and former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
DeleteStephanie
Anon 11:32 I can see that. He is a suave looking man.
DeleteQueen Maxima's dress is from 2017 I think. I know it is also designed by Jan Taminiau. On other pictures I saw another lady with a long dark red dress in the style of Jan Taminiau.. It is picture N° 3 and she is in the row just behind Queen Maxima and King Willem Alexander. Unfortunately she is not very visible here. I wonder if it could be someone of the Dutch delegation.
ReplyDeleteKing Willem Alexander is with his thoughts in The Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent!
ReplyDeletePeaceful coexistence symbolized: a Republic and a parliamentary monarchy, as reflected in dress choices. Nice photo of the four walking together. Chris
ReplyDeleteI think the First Lady of Czechia very sweet in light blue.
ReplyDeletePlease Maxima, you can be Royal and modest at the same time!!
You expect Maxima to change who she is. Why not the Czech first lady change her appearance to conform to her guest? Everyone should be themselves. The Czech Republic understood who they were inviting, as The Dutch delegation understood who they were visiting. If Maxima had dressed down on a state visit to another country, there would have been complaints that she was not showing enough respect to her host country by wearing more casual clothes.
DeleteNo one ever told queen Elizabeth to tone down her jewels
Delete@Anon 15:55 Excellent point!
DeleteI believe the Dutch royal family have one of the most stunning jewellery collections. I love how Maxima utilises the pieces.
ReplyDeleteNot many do state dinner attire quite like Maxima.
Lowri.
Queen Maxima looks stunning! Gorgeous gown and jewels. I feel she was appropriately dressed for a black tie state dinner--and I love her choice of red as a nod to her host nation. Maxima also chose to limit the bling too--she is not wearing the larger bracelet, she wearing the small version of the earrings, and I feel her gown needed the necklace. The Czech First Lady looks elegant and the pale blue is a wonderful color for her. Her dress is simple with the roses on the sleeves being the only flash. My major criticism of her dress is the length--I wish it were longer--floor length with a bit of a train or pooled fabric at the back.
ReplyDeleteJanet
I love Maxima's look, head to toe, i don't see any overdress problem nor a too much jewelry, she is a queen!
ReplyDeleteLuna
Glad Queen Maxima wears tiaras for banquets even if the country is a republic. Queen Elizabeth II always wore tiaras for overseas state banquets regardless of whether the host country was a monarchy or not. There are so few occasions left when we see royal splendour so keep up the appearances Queen Maxima!
ReplyDeleteThe Queen looks fantastic
ReplyDeleteThe red dress is nice but nothing special and too tight around the waist. The blue dress looks like a sac and not fit for the occasion.
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