His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of Netherlands are considered to be the most popular figures not only within the country but in entire Europe too. The level of their popularity is that people like to follow their fashion trends along with their life style. The couple is accorded with red carpet welcome during their entourage.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are patrons of the Orange Fund, which was a gift from the Dutch people on the occasion of their wedding in 2002. The Fund, which works for social welfare and cohesion in the Netherlands, is driven largely by volunteers.
The Netherlands’ royal family has certainly not been shy about expressing their emotions on the side-lines of the Rio 2016 Olympics. Argentinean-born Queen Maxima accompanied her husband King Willem-Alexander at a number of Olympic events including the hockey, swimming and sailing. The royal couple – seen laughing and joking throughout the game, and celebrating every Netherlands’ goal – seemed happier than ever.
The match turned out to be the toughest test yet for the Netherlands in Olympic women’s field hockey when they beat No.2-ranked Argentina 3-2. The royal looked resplendent and fashion-forward in a cream and blue embroidered dress with oversized gold earrings for the event and was delighted to exchange words with the Olympian.
Thousands poured onto the streets of Amsterdam today to be introduced to their new monarch King Willem-Alexander. The 46-year-old became the Netherland’s first male heir to ascend to the throne in more than a century and Dutch crowning: King Willem-Alexander becomes Europe’s youngest monarch.
During the colorful ceremony this morning the King proudly stood before his subjects with his Argentine-born wife Queen Maxima who looked equally regal in a royal blue dress. The celebration, held at a decommissioned church, was watched by the couple’s three daughters, a smiling Princess Beatrix and some 2,000 guests.
A sea of orange also surrounded the Royal palace in the city’s Dam Square as 20,000 people turned out to witness the country’s rare display of pomp and pageantry. A visibly emotional Princess Beatrix ended her reign in a nationally televised signing ceremony watched by millions.
Willem-Alexander gripped his mother’s hand and looked briefly into her eyes after they both signed the abdication document in the Royal palace. And Princess Beatrix looked close to tears as she then appeared on a balcony overlooking her cheering subjects.
Willem-Alexander was born in April 1967. He was the firstborn of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. His brothers Prince Friso (1968-2013) and Prince Constantijn (1969) followed soon. The eldest son, Willem Alexander succeeded to the throne in April 2013 and is now formally called His Majesty King Willem-Alexander.
After completing secondary school, the prince fulfilled his military service in the Royal Navy. In 1987 he enrolled at the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, where he graduated in History in 1993. He obtained his military pilot license and attended courses at the Netherlands Defence College. An introductory programme compiled especially for Willem-Alexander improved his understanding of Dutch society, the government and justice systems.
The world witnessed the fairytale wedding of Prince Willem Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta in February 2002. Their first child Princess Catharina-Amalia was born in December 2003. She was joined by her sisters Princess Alexia in June 2005 and Princess Ariane in April 2007. The family lives on De Horsten Estate in Wassenaar.
Prior to his accession to the throne, Prince Willem-Alexander fulfilled a number of specific functions as well as being committed to many aspects of modern society, such as water management, infrastructure and ICT, sports, and defence.
The Dutch Royal Family
Holland is a fairly young monarchy. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815, and King William-I was its first ruler. The first king of Holland was from the House of Orange-Nassau. The origin of Holland’s motto, ‘Je maintiendrai (“I will maintain”)’, the colors of the flag and the national color orange may all be found in the House of Orange-Nassau. Princess Beatrix was the reigning monarch for over 30 years. In 2013 her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, succeeded to the throne. The monarch has limited power; the King has immunity, but the real power lies with the ministers. The monarch is neutral and does not make pronouncements about political topics.
In his role as the King, he is the Head of State or in other words the inviolable part of the government. He performs government-related tasks, like signing acts, receiving oaths from government officials, and ceremonial tasks. This may involve receiving heads of state and paying state visits, attending jubilee events of important social institutions, or visiting and supporting the victims of national disasters.
Máxima Zorreguieta was born in Argentina in May 1971. She is the daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta and Maria del Carmen Cerrutti and grew up in Buenos Aires. After marrying Prince Willem-Alexander, she became Máxima, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mevrouw van Amsberg.
Máxima Zorreguieta was born in Argentina in May 1971. She is the daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta and Maria del Carmen Cerrutti and grew up in Buenos Aires. After marrying Prince Willem-Alexander, she became Máxima, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mevrouw van Amsberg.
In April 2013, when her husband succeeded Queen Beatrix to the throne and became His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, she officially became Queen Máxima. Unlike Prince Claus and Prince Bernhard, the spouses of Queen Beatrix and Queen Juliana, who never became ‘king’. However, Queen Máxima and these princes share the same responsibilities.
Máxima enrolled at the Catholic University of Argentina after completing secondary school. Queen Máxima passed her baccalaureate examinations at Northlands School in 1988. She graduated in economics from the Universidad Católica Argentina in 1995. From 1989 to 1990, while still at university, she worked for Mercado Abierto SA, where she did research into software for financial markets. After graduating, she worked in New York from 1995 to 2000. She met the Dutch Crown prince at a party in the Spanish city of Sevilla and moved to Brussels less than a year later. From 1992 to 1995, she worked in the Sales Department of Boston Securities SA in Buenos Aires. She also taught English to children and adults, and mathematics to secondary school pupils and first-year students.
From July 1996 to February 1998, Queen Máxima worked for HSBC James Capel Inc. in New York,
where she was Vice-President of Latin American Institutional Sales. She then worked for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, as Vice-President of the Emerging Markets Division, until July 1999.
She subsequently moved to Deutsche Bank in New York, where she was Vice-President of Institutional Sales. From May 2000 to March 2001, she worked at the EU Representative Office of Deutsche Bank in Brussels.
In 2001 Máxima Zorreguieta officially became a Dutch citizen on her birthday. The newly married couple moved into a house on Noordeinde square in The Hague and, in the spring of 2003, moved to villa Eikenhorst on De Horsten Estate in Wassenaar. They have three children: Princess Amalia (7 December 2003), Princess Alexia (26 June 2005) and Princess Ariane (10 April 2007).
As King Willem-Alexander’s spouse, Queen Máxima assists the king in fulfilling his tasks as the head of state. In addition to his formal tasks the king is committed to the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He has a unifying, representative and stimulating role.
Queen Máxima fulfils countless social tasks both within the Netherlands and abroad. She also has representative responsibilities, such as representing the Royal Family at official events throughout society. She is also a member of the Council of State.
Melange Report