- The Court Circular
It is always nice to see the Dutch royals doing their duty. It is even nicer when they do it while looking fabulous.
King Willem-Alexander looked very dapper, of course. Very kingly. Very respectable.
But let us be honest, dear reader.
We were not watching for the king.
The real stars of Prinsjesdag—the Dutch State Opening of Parliament—were Queen Máxima and her daughters, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane.
Traditionally, the King delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government’s plans for the coming parliamentary year. It is an important constitutional occasion, solemn enough to remind everyone that government is serious business.
Fortunately, the Dutch royal ladies were there to remind us that seriousness need not extend to the wardrobe.
And what made this year’s appearance particularly delightful was that there was no attempt at coordination. No matching colors. No carefully constructed family palette.
Just four women doing four entirely different things.
And somehow, it worked.
Queen Máxima appeared almost shockingly understated. Elegant, simple, restrained—three words one does not always associate with Her Majesty.
A plain white skirt. A long-sleeved black blouse. Clean, polished and decidedly chic.
She secured her family orders with a strawberry-leaf-shaped diamond and pearl brooch, a particularly charming piece that has royal history of its own. The brooch was worn by Princess Beatrix on her wedding day in 1966 and was accompanied by its pearl drop.
Proof, perhaps, that Máxima can make even restraint look classic.
Princess Catharina-Amalia chose a Grecian-inspired draped gown in olive green. This author particularly enjoys this look. It is effortless without being lazy, elegant without feeling overly formal, and fresh without trying desperately to be young.
The Princess paired it with large gold statement earrings.
And here, dear reader, comes the tiniest bit of royal side-eye.
A missed opportunity.
With that extraordinary family jewelry collection sitting somewhere in a vault, surely there was a necklace, a brooch, a pair of earrings—or indeed something gloriously unnecessary—that could have been persuaded to come out for the afternoon.
But perhaps the Dutch vaults are saving their best tricks for another occasion.
Princess Alexia, meanwhile, understood the assignment.
She appeared in a dark green dress with a cape detail, a style currently enjoying considerable popularity among European royal houses. Rather than wear her family order conventionally, she secured it to the back of the cape.
And then came the hat.
A striking burgundy creation that looked as though it might have been borrowed directly from an extremely glamorous archaeologist in Indiana Jones.
And frankly?
I approve.
It was dramatic, unexpected and very much on trend.
Princess Ariane, meanwhile, decided that if the Queen’s wardrobe is available, why on earth would one not raid it?
Quite right.
The Princess wore an ensemble previously worn by Queen Máxima for Prinsjesdag in 2019. Recycling royal fashion is nothing new, of course, and there is something rather charming about seeing a mother’s wardrobe make its way down the family tree.
Though, once again, this author finds himself staring toward the royal vault.
A little ruby would not have gone amiss.
There were four women. Four very different looks. Plenty of royal jewelry.
And yet the jewels remained remarkably well behaved.
One cannot help wondering whether Prinsjesdag might benefit from a slight change of format.
Perhaps an evening affair?
The Speech from the Throne at eight. Champagne at nine. Tiaras by ten.
And, naturally, dancing until the constitutional arrangements become someone else’s problem.
I hear the new Prime Minister is rather good on his feet.
Now that would be a State Opening worth attending.
Leave a Reply