Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are making a three-day state visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. On June 17, 2026, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima officially welcomed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Dam Square in Amsterdam. Afterwards, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako laid a wreath at the National Monument in Dam Square.
In the evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will host a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Crown Princess Amalia, Princess Ariane, Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, and Princess Laurentien will also attend the state banquet, as will Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven.
For the first day of Japan’s state visit to the Netherlands, Queen Máxima wore a bespoke green midi dress with an asymmetrical hemline by the fashion house Natan. A vintage ready-to-wear fabric was used for the dress and was hand-painted by Pablo Piatti. Pablo Piatti is an Argentine artist who has been collaborating with the fashion house Natan for several seasons.
On June 16, 2026, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan arrived at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Emperor and Empress are staying at Het Oude Loo Castle, the Dutch Royal Family’s country residence.
I am really sorry, but this is a no in more aspects.
ReplyDeleteBare arms and a cardigan??
Not how you recieve an Emperor and Empress.
Strange dress also: cannot make it out of which material.
And maybe a little less high heels for these smaller people?
Made my day!!!!
Delete11:15 what’s your point re bare arms; didn’t understand? It’s the start of a heat wave in Western Europe so we are certainly coming into a week of bare arms and that’s very sensible. She has beautiful arms and every right to show them! Think she looks a million dollars in this outfit!!
Delete11:15 pretty sure the queen knows a whole lot more than us about how to receive foreign royals!
Delete"pretty sure the queen knows a whole lot more than us about how to receive foreign royals!"
DeleteYou would think so but oh no!!
My first thought was Máxima looks like she’s wearing a shrubbery. Perhaps the green dress looks better in person.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
I thought the same thing, should we get out the hedge clippers or the grass mower? I wont mention the plastic shoes and bare arms.
DeleteI felt sorry for the little tyke crying.
The king and his wife are looking very big en tall. The dress is okay but not standing near the Japenese keizer and his wife 😉
ReplyDeleteTall or small, only tiny minds have a problem. What you see is two couples of friends!
DeleteGosh, there's such a huge height difference between the two royal couples.!
ReplyDeleteI love the color of Maxima's dress but that's the only compliment that comes to mind.When I got a close up look at the dress the fabric appeared to resemble overgrown grass that needed to be cut.Also I have never been a fan of asymmetrical hems.Natan of course.
Cate.
Oh Maxima! Going to the prom, looks very Cinderella like!
ReplyDeleteEmpress is spot on dressed for state visit ceremonial/official reception.
Empress looks very professional, lovely colour on her. But Maxima missed the brief. That dress looks like a lawn. And the jersey around her shoulders does nothing for.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree!!!
DeleteIt's good to touch the green green grass of home!
DeleteAgreed - Like a a lawn.
DeleteUnfair to lawns, at least you can play croquet on them. Compost heap please.
DeleteWhat a terrible green dress Maxima is wearing! It looks like little green worms are crawling all over her! And then the high heels again, she seems to enjoy towering over the Japanese guests!
ReplyDeleteShe’s not trying to tower over her guests! She and her husband are tall. And the dress looks superb on her, not a worm in sight.
DeleteRavie que Maxima ait réussi à combiner le vert de cette robe originale Natan avec la touche blanche d’un serre-tête, d’un cardigan ainsi qu’une pochette !
ReplyDeleteThe Empress's style is well known. The difference between both styles here is too striking. If I dare I would say Qn Maxima's dress is a bad choice.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteA very very very very very bad choice
DeleteAgree !!
DeleteOh Max is so much fun! I think she looks absolutely gorgeous in this outfit, that hairstyle goes so well with that shape and length of dress. The material is looking very tree like and I’m 100% on for this summer look!
ReplyDeleteFun ?
DeleteQueen Maxima's dress looks like grass to me, am trying to make sense of it!!!
ReplyDeleteThere's no sense in this outfit...
Deleteyes !
DeleteEmpress Massako looks absolutely lovely! Finally a skirt that is tailored to highlight her trim figure. Beautiful color on the Empress!MR
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see all 4 of them together, smiling and happy. There is a difference in styles of dress between Maxima and Masako - one is formal and the other more casual, but both look good in their own way. Had Maxima worn a jacket or a light, long matching coat (seeing that the covering was only temporary, anyway) she'd have looked more appropriate for a state welcome. I love her unusual dress though. Some may compare it to a patch of grass but to me it is artistic, especially when you read of the component materials. One can always count on Maxima to push the limits and I love her for that (and many other things). Masako is dressed in her usual elegant style and is suitably ready to meet the crowds and her fans. I'm noticing a slight change in the style of her hat and it looks good.
ReplyDeleteHowever they may dress, at the heart of it, these two couples are fast friends, and what they wear in each others company matters less to them, and more to us, who are mere unknown observers.
Looking forward to the state banquet tonight.
- Anon 9:13
Exactly! The only thing I would have changed if I were Maxima, was wearing slightly lower heels. It won't make a big difference but still. But they all look great in their own styles. Looking forward to tonight!
DeleteWonderful comment. Thank you for having a great perspective on the sartorial choices of royals and not jumping into comments that hardly seem factual (see many other examples above). I like reading your posts as they are always decent and polite. We need more comments like yours
DeleteMaxima has such bad taste: plastic shoes and a dress that looks like artificial grass.
DeleteOn Maxima...I know it's the football world cup n all but wearing a dress which resembles the pitch is a bit much!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing more of this and the Belgian visit, particularly the state banquets. JJ
アムステルダム王宮に到着された時の雅子さまのお洋服(水色のスーツに同系色の花柄のスカーフ)も爽やかで素敵だったので、掲載していただけたら嬉しいです。
ReplyDeleteI saw that outfit online and it is very beautiful. The blog owner probably will, so hold on.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Weer weet QM weer alle aandacht op te eisen, knalgroene jurk, torenhoge hakken, ze lijkt wel een reuzin, en een steeds dikker wordende pruik,
ReplyDeleteRespect voor de japanse keizerin, verfijnd, bescheiden kleding, lage hakken , en haar eigen tanden, ze is gewoon heel naturel.
@ 14:56
DeleteMag Koningin Maxima nu ook al haar tanden niet meer laten verzorgen ? Ik draag geen hoge hakken meer wegens leeftijd, maar de hakken die Keizerin Masako draagt (foto 5) zou ik ook niet willen dragen.
Koningin Maxima draagt geen pruik maar haarextensies die haar dunne haar voller moeten doen lijken. Als zij een hoed draagt om haar dunne haar onder te verstoppen, krijgt zij ook commentaar. Ik heb respect voor bijna elke koning en koningin, maar dat betekent niet dat ik daarom hun kleding zou willen kopiëren. Dus volgens jou mag een vrouw of man niets doen om er beter of jonger uit te zien ?
100 % mee eens
DeleteI suppose one must not like this vintage dress for this occasion. I rather prefer the grace and elegance of the Emperess.
ReplyDeleteOh my - while I applaud HM Q Maxima’s joie de vivre and enthusiastic approach to fashion, her dress for this event is not a good look. It makes me think of faded Astroturf.
ReplyDeleteHIM Empress Masako’s dress and jacket combo is a beautiful pearl grey color, but I do wish the skirt were straighter and didn’t have the slight bell effect toward the hem. Overall though, that’s a minor quibble and the outfit is very pretty.
Why does Masako always hold her handbag against her stomac ?
ReplyDeleteWhy not ???
DeleteErrrrrrrr, I don't know. Anybody else?
DeleteI think it's just how she stands--arms down, hands together in front of her body while holding a clutch bag in her hands. It's a very appropriate way to stand for ceremonial or official occasions. The Princess of Wales very often does the same thing. Janet
DeleteQM dress reminds me of fake patio ivy. Not my favorite but I'm looking forward to the state banquet!
ReplyDeleteAt first glance,Maxima looked like she was draped in the front lawn! Of course it’s a Natan design. I wish she had chosen something more ‘official’. In contrast you look at the Empress and she looks beautiful in her tailored skirt suit. Maybe Maxima will redeem herself at tonight’s dinner.
ReplyDeleteLowri.
No, no, no!!! This dress looks like Astroturf and should be returned to the designer. Somewhere in the Netherlands a field has a cutout of a dress that needs to be replaced. In all sincerity, I understand that Queen Maxima loves to play with fashion and is game to try different things but this is flat out awful. On the other hand, Empress Masako looks lovely in her soft blue silk suit. She is elegant and as chic as the strict fashion police in the Imperial household will allow her to be. The scarf she seems to have added later is equally as beautiful and is a perfect accessory. Cannot wait to see the state banquet looks later!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Non ci credo. La regina Maxima ha ricevuto l'imperatore del Giappone e sua moglie in Visita di Stato indossando un cerchietto e un cardigan sulle spalle?
ReplyDeleteLa stessa regina che si presenta ad un evento in un asilo indossando un enorme cappello e i guanti??
Incomprensibile..
Maxima ha indossato un cespuglio? E poi non avrebbe bisogno di tacchi altissimi perché credo sia una donna alta, lei e il marito fanno sparire la coppia imperiale .
ReplyDeleteMa perché questa esagerazione per niente elegante.
I've seen a close-up of the fabric in which Q. Maxima's dress is made. It looks like little leaves attached on what I think is a sort of light canvas. The little leaves are handpainted by the artist. I do not like an uneven hemline on any dress. This dress is something extra ordinary but I'd prefer a short simple jacket without lapels or a collar made in this fabric, which can be worn on a lot of dresses, blouses, tops, pants, skirts, etc...
ReplyDeleteI do not think it is possible to look as little as the Japanese imperial couple.
Why it is always Queen Maxima who receive bad comments because she is wearing heels. King Willem Alexander does not wear high heels and he is very tall also. Or must they cut a piece of their legs in case they encounter people from Asia or India who are very short. I don't think Queen Mathilde will wear low heels when they'll arrive in Belgium. She will be dressed in her own style as usual.
I LOVE this dress on Maxima and all accessories. Absolutely stunning with some fun thrown in.
ReplyDelete@Anon 17:43 Agree 100%.
Delete- Anon 9:13
I don’t think a lack of taste is funny.
DeleteWhat a beautifully shaped dress for Queen Maxima! I’d love to see a close up of the fabric, but first impression is it’s so refreshing in summer to see green.
ReplyDeleteThere are close-ups on the net and it is truly very unique. I love it too, as I said in my post above.
Delete- Anon 9:13
A cardigan worn just over the shoulders, not even using the sleeves to a highly official state visit welcoming ceremony? No. I'm not even talking about that foliage/lawn dress. A freakin' cardigan! Of course, I know the Dutch royals are very close friends with the Japanese Imperial couple. But to tower them by wearing sky-high shoes, is, of all things, something very inconsiderate (dare I even say disrespectful?). Queen Maxima is much taller anyway, why enforce her height that much with these enormous heels? Sorry, I can't get over it. Poor Empress Masako (and also the Emperor) looking like dwarves compared to their Dutch hosts. I know, one cannot make a tall person smaller, but wearing lower heels would have helped make the difference in height less stark. I am quite disappointed this time by Queen Maxima. The Empress is, of course, her usual self.
ReplyDeleteThis world is made up of billions of tall people and short people, and billions in-between. Even if Maxima and Willem-Alexander had walked barefoot they would have still towered over the Emperor and Empress, so I don't see why you are so fussed about this. I'd much rather see all 4 of them wearing whatever they like and are comfortable in - that is to say, being themselves - and that is exactly what they have done. Just like true, close friends do in the presence of each other.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Well, their night is what it is. For both pairs. I think no one should consistently wear those high heels, for the sake of their own health. There is known evidence and research about the bone malformations they cause (see Letizia for example), but that has nothing to do with the height difference.
DeleteAlso, I will remind everyone who has an issue with cardigans that Michelle Obama wore one when meeting Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham palace. Nothing quite unusual as some think.
It’s not inconsiderate and it’s not disrespectful, it’s Maxima who is a tall lady. These couples are friends and for sure know that there are different heights.
DeleteI think a sleeveless dress is utterly acceptable. No problem at all with that. She looks really great in this dress.
DeleteDSC where are you from? Cardigans and sleeveless dresses are completely appropriate here. I think she looks great and don’t understand your perspective.
DeleteDSC I think you’re worrying about problems that aren’t here. A lovely set of clothes across the 4 of them, all appropriate.
DeleteFrom Joann. Queen Maxima should h ave used a shawl instead of cardigan. I don't like the high heels towering over guests. The Empress is lovely and elegant as always. .The planners should not have had the Empress' rear so prominently displayed. The children should have been lined up in a different direction, so she would be bending over with a side view.. The children already had been photographed from the front.
ReplyDeletePost a Comment