On Thursday evening, April 23, 2026, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands hosted a dinner for the Diplomatic Corps at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. In addition to approximately 140 foreign representatives based in the Netherlands and Brussels, ministers, members of parliament, mayors, and heads of major institutions were also invited.
At the diplomatic dinner, Queen Máxima wore a bright pink evening gown designed by Edouard Vermeulen of the fashion house Natan, which she first wore in 2007. She also wore the Ruby Peacock Tiara and matching jewelry set.
Maxima’s jewelry here is just phenomenal. She pulls off wearing a bright dress and lots of bling like no
ReplyDeleteone else could.
-Royal Watcher
Totally agree - absolutely amazing! Ac
DeleteNice gown ! On another blog, they the gown is 19ys old !! Could well be, she has such an abundant range of "everything" !!
DeleteStunning. And the dress is nearly 20 years old - she had worn it in 2007!
DeleteWho would fit into a dress worn 19 years ago? I wouldn't.
its too much bling! its blinding!
DeleteShe looks beautiful in this color. I'm not sure of the design/style of this gown. I think its the tiered and lace inserts. Also the bust style area. I do love the draped piece, nice addition. Her small silver evening clutch and silver shoes are well combined.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do love are her choice of jewels, sensational!!!
The tiara, ruby and diamond what a stunner, her hair is incorporated well with this tiara. Love the necklace, I'm glad she wore one. The bracelets, wow! Oh, aren't they just gorgeous! Again she is not hesitant in wearing these jewels, which I admire greatly. The smaller ruby and diamond earrings were all that was needed, clever choice. Her makeup was on point, her hair styled beautifully, I really love the back view of her hair, it looked well styled, but soft and natural, well done!
Maxima and Willem-Alexander look their usual fabulous selves; we can always rely on them to go fully regal on a tiara occasion. Their presentation is always a delight to see; and I particularly like this parure.
ReplyDeleteI do wish Maxima's pretty gown had a different bodice, though. I find this style of strapless top unflattering on any woman. It distorts the natural bustline, creating a flattened "roadhump" silhouette. Maxima has a fine figure and deserves better. If this one detail were different I would give this look 10/10. Lyra
Maxima is a beautiful woman and she is not too old yet to wear a dress like this. I think many women would like to have the same silhouette as Maxima's.
DeleteThe ruby peacock tiara is matching the ruby jewelry set. Both once belonged to Queen Wilhelmina, the grandmother of Princess Beatrix. The ruby set can be worn in different ways. The middle part of the necklace can be worn as a brooch. The bracelets also can be transformed to all kind of jewelry. The necklace has a thin part with fine rectangle rubies which can be worn separately. These old very valuable jewelry is kept in excellent condition.
Totally agree with anonymous 2:49, the bodice of this dress is very unfortunate, it flattens, sit's too low but also pushes the breast out in certain places in a most unflattering way. I can't believe Queen Maxima would wear a dress so old and dated, it is very unbecoming and I think the bling even makes this look worse. To me it is a miss and the Queen should invest in some new and updated gowns.
DeleteDear 11:48 I feel the opposite! LOVING seeing our royals rewearing fabulous frocks from the past. It’s fabulous she still fits it, that’s she’s proud to wear it, and as it’s custom, it never was “in date” and can’t go of date! The “bling” is fabulous priceless Crown Jewels… can we really call this bling?! I love her exuberance and rewear.
DeleteOh my isn’t this a great look! The king looks fantastic , only to be out shone by his beautiful queen. Love the colours nd the jewelry wow, well done.
ReplyDeleteMaxima est rayonnante, on la voit ici dans toute sa splendeur. Que dire de son chignon!
ReplyDeleteFrilly,froufrou dress in clashing colours. All the matching jewellry is a bit too much. Maybe the necklace is too close to the tiara because her face seems to disappear as your eyes travel from top to toe
ReplyDelete3:54 to be fair these photos are mostly under flash and we don’t see the beauty of the colours.
DeleteI don't understand your comment, "her face seems to disappear". I think the queen looks amazing.
DeleteLoaded with jewellery. A litte less would be more.
DeleteThe “tube top” look is not flattering, as others have said. The color is stunning , love it.
DeleteLove the 'up do'
ReplyDeleteYou’d think that for such a formal dinner they’d dim the lights just a little. So bright!
ReplyDeleteMaxima is emitting enough glow! with her dress and jewerly
DeleteI'm not so sure about the dress - mainly the white lace ruffles...the other ruffles I'm OK with - but I absolutely love the red and hot pink combo of the outfit. Of course, if anyone can wear this dress successfully, with charm, confidence and charisma, it's Maxima, and she doesn't disappoint here. Lovely! Nice sparklers too - all of them! This is one annual event where she can get away wearing as much as she wants to. She's the hostess with the mostess.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
So well said Anon 9:13! Totally agree, especially with your last sentence 😁
DeleteI agree with you. Love the colour combo. I also think that you should be allowed to remodel a dress this old, even if it is a designer dress. I would remove the lace ruffle, they feeloutdated.
DeleteThanks Zucchina, and I'm totally with you Lady of the Manor, about the removal of the lace ruffle.
Delete- Anon 9:13
You captured my thoughts exactly! All of the design elements may not be my first choice, but the color combo is fun and she looks spectacular in this gown. The jewels are off the charts gorgeous and love that she wears it for all of us to admire instead of sitting in a vault.
DeleteVond het destijds een mooie jurk, maar ze is er uit gegroeid. Soms is het tijd om afscheid te nemen van bepaalde kledingstukken, want deze strapless bovenkant is niet meer zo passend bij haar leeftijd.
ReplyDeleteStrapless heeft een tijdslimiet? Nog nooit van gehoord. Ze kan het juist perfect hebben!
Delete@ Ik ben het eens met 10:24. Koningin Maxima is een mooie vrouw. Zij kan deze jurk nog perfect dragen. De bijhorende juwelen maken het plaatje compleet. Ik denk dat hier veel jaloersheid heerst omdat de koningin op haar leeftijd nog fier mag zijn of haar mooie lichaam. Veel jongere vrouwen die niet zo'n mooi lichaam hebben vinden toch dat zij zich niet moeten verstoppen. Voor mij hoeft het niet, maar het is wel aangenamer om naar een mooie persoon te kijken.
DeleteÈ già abbronzata, ma le spalle così scoperte non mi piacciono e soprattutto trovo brutto il taglio dell’abito con questa “scollatura” che schiaccia il seno e ne fa uscire un po’ ai lati.
ReplyDeleteA tavola si copre, e ha fatto bene.
Fabuleusement époustouflante
ReplyDeleteFroufrou
The jewelry, which is splendid, donot match the youtfull and strong coloured, also attention asking, dress. One of them should have been more simple to make a good combination. The dress was once a stunner, but not any more.
ReplyDeleteI think so, too. Too much glamour. Also - the Queen is in the meantime 20 years.older despite Botox??
Delete12:08 Too much glamour?! She is the queen of her country … can’t have too much glamour in that role.
DeleteI find the tulip arrangements on the table fascinating, overwhelmingly Dutch.
ReplyDelete🌷💐🌷💐
🌞 Virginia
Je ne les ai jamais vus aussi beaux ; je ne peux détacher mon regard des bijoux diamants/rubis que j’adore particulièrement !
ReplyDelete@06:36 &06:38 -totally agree. And `only Maxima could wear this dress` - I imagine no one else would want to, it is so outdated. She has been wearing a lot of old clothes lately, she really should have a clear out because most are of their time, not classic and not flattering. The jewels, which thankfully she had no input into their design, are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the outdated dresses of Queen Maxima than those worn by the champion of wearing old clothes (much older than this dress) like Princess Anne of the U.K. f.ex.
DeleteI wish that all the Royal ladies wil more often wear their lovely jewelery. They are queens, a grand duchess, crown princesses, princesses. All the jewelry are already in their vaults. Wear them, please. As often as possible!! You really don't need an excuse. You are royalty.
ReplyDeleteAgree with everyone who says this is a fantastic galadress. Spectaculair together with the jewelry. When I look at pictures of 2007 the dress has pink lace. Now it looks like the pink lace has been replaced by white. The first edition was better I think
ReplyDeletePhenomenal!!! MR
ReplyDeletePour moi la plus belle reine. Elle seule peut tout porter. Sa robe et ses bijoux assortis splendide.
ReplyDeleteHair tick tick
ReplyDeleteDress tick tick
Colour tick tick
Jewellery tick tick tick
Just overall fantastic.
Totally agree. Just fabulous from head to toe
DeleteFantas”tick” ;-).
DeleteNice gown, but the Tiara and necklace are fantastic. I would love to play in that jewelry box.
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@13:25- one has class the other doesn't, one was born royal the other wasn't and tries too hard to be relevant.
ReplyDelete@ 13:25
DeleteLet's face it, Princess Anne could never wear a dress like this. Queen Maxima can. If having class means wearing old ugly dresses (and shoes and handbags), I prefer looking at someone who received a lot of beauty of mother nature and who can wear a beautiful dress and beautiful crown jewels and on top of that is very intelligent. She meets people of international organizations and is able to discuss international problems and helps people where she can to make their life better than before. Than who is relevant ? Tell me !
Born royal or not, princess Anne doesn’t have class in her sartorial choices. She is a recycler, yes, admirable, kept her frame in shape, also admirable, and has people who make sure moths don’t get to her decades-old coats. That’s completely different than having style. Repeat rewears are certainly a good thing (and Maxima, very much like Mary, Mathilde and Letizia, is very inspired when she restyles them) but when they were so-so to begin with, they don’t get better with time.
DeleteThe answer of 18:08 was meant to be sent to 23:41 and not to 13:25
DeleteMy mistake
Sorry
To get a truthful picture of what a strapless dress really looks like on a lady, I scroll down or put my hand over the head & neck. The result is NOT flattering most of the time, same as with Máxima's dress. It's obvious from her posture that she's not comfortable in it due to body changes over almost 2 decades. Really, she has better dresses than this one for such an occasion. ~~Ruthie
ReplyDeleteTotally overdressed. The fit of the dress is not suitable for Maxima's figure. The bust sags and the bottom makes it unnecessarily wide.
ReplyDeleteAgree with your thoughts. Nice though that she was able to get her hair done, or plop a wig on her head. The dress looks like something out of the 1980's thrift shop. Jewelry lovely.
DeleteIt is a white tie event, a dinner in the evening, so she is not overdressed. In Denmark f.ex. the royals are also wearing the white tie and the royal ladies are wearing a long dress when the Diplomatic corps and the foreigh representatives are invited. In Belgium they are not doing this. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe are having several receptions in the beginning of each year for the foreign diplomates and other international organizations which are stationed in Brussels.
DeleteJust fabulous from head to toe. Thank you QM
ReplyDeleteQ M always so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAn awful choice, she looks as though she has been squeezed into the dress, and is bulging out of it too. The jewels seem overload to me when no other lady will be wearing a tiara, attention seeking at it`s max.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you!
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