Today, Princess Alexia of The Netherlands celebrates her 18th birthday. Three new photos have been released on the occasion of the 18th birthday of Princess Alexia. The photos were taken by photographer Frank Ruiter at Palace Huis ten Bosch. Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien, the Princess of Orange-Nassau was born on June 26, 2005 at Bronovo Hospital as the second daughter of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
Beautiful girl. Happy 18th!
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
18th! can't wait for her tiara debut! Btw, Please fire this photographer.
ReplyDeleteWhy fire? This is a piece of art. e.
DeleteI agree, for a professional photographer he could have done a better job.
DeleteMJT
The first photo is unfluttering! An older, ulglier version of herself. She looks so much better than this
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAnon13:44
DeleteYou’ll have to forgive me as I’m not an expert on photography/ paintings/portraits etc.
But could you explain why this photographer should be fired?
His/her work looks O.K. to me.
P.s. A very happy 18th to Princess Alexia.
Fire the photographer?
DeleteYou mean you don't think that they all sat down and planned weeks ahead about the style of photos that Alexia, the photographer and possibly her parents wanted, and then agreed to?
These photo shoots don't just happen on the spur of the moment, you know.
- Anon 9:13
Agree, fire the Photographer.
DeleteKay
A beautiful girl that somehow seems very lonely and very sad.
DeleteI found the first picture very much aling with the family's Dutch claroscuro, very Rembrandt/Vermeer hence lovely.
ReplyDeleteBut the 2nd and 3rd pictures are a miss for me, don't see/understand the message she wants to convey. For instance when princess Ingrid turn 18, not the gala affair, her pictures were beautiful.
Any way happy birthday to her
Luna
I think you grasped here something essential of what the photos, especially the 1st, could be inspired by, Vermeer is the greatest master of light falling on a face in front of a dark background ("Girl with a perl earring" etc). Thank you for sharing your idea.
DeleteGM
Exactly. My first thought when seeing photo one was Dutch Masters. I think they're beautiful.
DeleteNow I'm beginning to understand. Inspiration via the Dutch Masters.
Delete@GM You are right. I thought so myself.
DeleteBeautiful! The dark backdrop is mysterious and is unique to typical royal portraits. Her white dress adds drama and contrast. Princess Alexia looks stunning and she’s dressed very age-appropriate. Love her outfit and jewelry. Happy birthday, Your Highness!
ReplyDeleteWauw, wat een mooie foto's van een geweldige mooie jongedame
ReplyDeleteWauw, wat een mooie foto's van een geweldige mooie jonge dame
ReplyDeleteQuite breathtaking beauty. Just one little smile wouldn't have harmed :-) , but maybe she did not want it for this very formal occasion.
ReplyDeleteGM
Well, it becomes too formal then …these age her a lot. Can’t say she’s just turning 18th on these portraits, especially the 1st pic 🤔
DeleteShe’s technically attractive but her arrogant expression in the first photo is very off-putting. Wish they had only released the second photo. Wish her good health on her birthday.
ReplyDeleteI would not qualify ‘arrogant expression’ on the 1st pic, but agree the portrait looks severe and unfriendly for a young lady. Perhaps because we expect some fresh and youthful pic for someone turning 18th….i’m not sure what, but something is off with these portraits. Not fan …She looks better at other events.
DeleteA.
Agree
DeleteAgree, on pictures and outings she often comes across as quite smug and entitled. I don’t know if she really is, but the expression of her face gives me that feeling.
DeleteAfter all, she is the most beautiful of all of the three daughters, she is a princess by birth and daughter of a king of one of the wealthiest royal houses, has access to jewels and houses and aides, she is not the crown princess, she won’t have many duties and will be able to enjoy her life freely. To be honest, I would be smug, too if I was her ;-)
Sissy
@ Sissy. What she will do with her life in the future is her decision. She probably will have a job like all the brothers and sisters of all the crown princesses and crown princes of Europe will have in the future. She already said she will support her sister the crown princess whenever necessary but she is glad that she does not have to face the responsibility her sister has. Rose
DeleteStrange pictures of an eighteen year old.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of Ingrid Alexandra turning 18 as mentioned above are so much more relaxed.
Donot know what to think of these.
I’m with you, same thought here!
DeleteSoph.
Looks as if she does not want to be photographed. Has an 18 year old 'attitude' and definitely has her Mum's legs.
DeleteTotally agree. Very strange and artificial pictures, especially since she is so young. Too "wannabee" for my taste.
DeleteRoyal parents are usually very focused on their comfort followers.
DeleteSehr arroganter Blick auf allen Fotos, kommt nicht sympathisch rüber.
ReplyDeleteYes definitely not nice at all 😱
DeleteJa, leider! Wir sind ja der Mode wegen hier, aber diese Bilder hinterlassen bei mir keinen positiven Eindruck.
Deletesadly I must agree ...
DeleteIch interpretiere den Ausdruck nicht als arrogant, sondern nachdenklich. Vielleicht eine Form der freudschen Übertragung bei 16.56, lol... Ansonsten fabelhaft im Stil der alten niederländischen Meister. e.
Deleteauch kein positiven Eindruck bei mir, weder Freude bei der jungen Dame. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag.
DeleteThe first picture I don’t recognize her, very arty photography. I dont mind the shorter skirt length but the proportion seems off. Maybe an inch or two longer would balance the look? Otherwise attractive girl.
ReplyDeleteThese photos project zero joy. Not asking for a big smile but, as a poster noted above, there is a great contrast with other royal teenagers who were photographed on this occasion.
ReplyDeleteWhy compare? Isn't it good that royals are as different as everybody, not always corresponding to pre-fabricated ideas about how they should be? (GM)
DeleteShe looks like an absolute sweetheart. Of the 3 sisters, Alexia resembles her mother the closest, an exotic beauty. She has certainly grown up compared to earlier family group photos, she has gained a sense of gravitas.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure the backdrop, poses and expressions were directed by the photographer. The first reminds me of the painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Max and W-A can be proud! S.M.
Wat een verveelde uitdrukking op deze foto's..en dat is niet voor het eerst helaas, geen zin an zeker!
ReplyDeleteJolie jeune fille mais avec un petit sourire, elle aurait paru plus détendue pour ces photos ; je lui souhaite quand même un bon anniversaire !
ReplyDeleteLike Art from an old dutch Painter
ReplyDeleteI like it!
Happy Birthday 🎈
A very happy 18th birthday to a beautiful young lady. css
ReplyDeleteShe is a very attractive young lady. Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteThe 1st photo is very striking, looks like a Vermeer painting. A very happy birthday to her!
ReplyDeleteChel
I just cannot understand why so many are critically comparing this beautiful girl to other "bright and cheery" teenagers, and other 'smiley' photos. It's awful to do that. Where is it written that all teenagers must be smiling and projecting 'joy' according to your definition of joy? I'm sure that Alexia is a perfectly content, happy (and smiley) person in her life that none of us see, and for her 18th birthday portraits she has the right to choose the style of the photos she wants. I'm also pretty sure that the style of these photos were not a mistake or a flook - but were a conscious decision by the photographer, Alexia and somewhat her parents before the photo shoot began. The photos are artistic and show off this 18yo unique beauty and character. So let's not have any 'fire the photographer' or 'such arrogance, severe and unfriendly looks by an 18yo' comments. Instead be happy for this lovely girl, and stop comparing her to other royal 18yo, who unlike Alexia, will have a vastly different role in their future and accordingly, may have no choice in the kind of images they want to project to their future subjects besides bright and smiley (and possibly fake if they don't really feel that way).
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
Thank you, thank you @anon 9:13! I agree with every word you said. She doesn't look arrogant at all, just a lovely young woman. And the pictures are very artistic, just like beautiful old paintings.
DeleteBravo for this comment; hope some very negative posters will see your comment and might reconsider theirs ... One thing's for sure, the Dutch royal family never goes for standard family nor portrait photos and I applaud them for this
DeletePortrait is not supposed to scare people. Can’t say that with regards to the 1st. Probably art orientated or whatever, however it does not advantage her beauty at all! Strange face, i hardly recognise her.
DeleteClaire
I quite like the portraits. They have a timeless quality. I think she has a very sweet expression in the second pic. I’d bet she is an introvert who, unfortunately, often get mistaken for distant or even arrogant.
ReplyDelete- Madeleine
I agree with you 100%, Madeleine. Happy birthday, Alexia!
DeleteOkay. We got it. You are not an ordinary princess. Putting on a pretty face and a smile is just not your thing. You've got a message. Seems a bit late pubertal to me. We will see what it leads to. P.S. I see the reminiscence to the old Dutch painters. But I still think it is not the best choice of photos for an 18 year old.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about, are you that familiar with the young princess? Would you like such a comment about you?
Deletewow, quite arrogant to comment like that about an 18 year old you neither know personally nor have probably ever seen face to face.
DeleteI also find this comment disgusting. Such condescension towards an 18yo from someone who sounds like she is many, many decades older and should know better than to make such crude and distasteful remarks.
Delete- Anon 9:13
I hope it Is just me, I am tired after my working day, actually.
DeleteWhat I read is nasty, terribily nasty, why?
What else are you preparing besides your ageism and bodyshaming obsessions?
First you stirred the pot with your ageism when commenting on Pss Caroline (one of many of your targets) ...and now you get to the opposite side of the scale...rebuking a beautiful young girl just because she's young and turned 18 yesterday.
Is youth so disturbing to you?
I can't t know your personal history lurking beneath all your sad and creeping comments but there Is something I strongly reject in them.
I would not define all that Simply insane but more as a sort of dark side under the guise of your " art review"
I do not like your words at all.
And I'm not gonna say sorry this time.
she is a gorgeous girl, these pictures are meh and in my opinion very unflattering.
ReplyDeleteIs she wearing Natan? just kidding! Happy Birthday Alexia!
ReplyDeleteI think the photographs could be better. The first one is terrible. She looks sleepy and her complexion is ashy. The second one is much better. Her face looks bright and alive. I don’t love the setting and her outfit is rather plain. I’d expect better for an 18th birthday portrait.
ReplyDeleteLove the middle photo the best--very artistic type of photo shoot. Happy Birthday to Alexia!!!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Can't people stop publishing disagreable things about teenagers and their looks ?!?!?!? Don't they remember how they tried to look "cool" and stylished when they were 18 ? Don't they remember their own fashion-errors when they tried to find their style at that age ? And don't tell me now that because they are in the public's spotlight they have to be perfect all the time ! I really think that these young and still fragile youngsters should be spared these nasty comments of strangers who never met them.
ReplyDeletethank you, thank you, thank you for that comment !!!! i can totally agree with it
DeleteWhy can’t you be open minded to embrace various viewpoints even different from yours? The blog would be biased if only selected praises are allowed!
DeleteMary
Of course it’s inspired by Vermeer!!!
ReplyDeleteO dear, hardly dare to say anything..
ReplyDeleteCould it be that, in accordance to the press strategy of just 2 pictures of the royal offspring a year, we donot really know them and are more critical whenever a picture is published?
And now it is an artificial picture, something totaly different from any holyday picture, so we donot really get a chance to get to know this girl.
Mabel
Its a fashion blog is it not? So to critique dress style, length, colour how is fits or suits the wearer should be okay. The princess looks lovely. Their choices don’t necessarily always give the wow factor we look for, but it pleases them.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures (the first most of all) are clearly aimed to be in sync with the style of the Old Flemish Masters of Painting. I quite like that approach. However, I think Princess Alexia comes across here as a little unauthentic. Quite stilted, restrained. That, in turn, might lead to the assumption that she looks arrogant or even bored, as someone said in the comments. Having said that, I am sure that all people involved in the photoshoot, including the birthday girl, have agreed on the setting and style of the pictures. Would it have been better to show her somewhere in nature, like on a wide Northsea Beach, laughing, being jolly? Perhaps. But they decided otherwise and that we should respect.
ReplyDelete1st portrait is creepy. She looks very condescending, which is not the case, but this is how the portrait shows it.
DeleteLet's just say she failed to recreate the look of "The Girl With A Pearl Earring", should that ever have been the goal.
DeleteShe looks arrogant. That’s also a honest opinion!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, she may be a very sweet young girl.
DeleteThe photographer has done her no favours in these first two photos.
And even an „honest opinion“ can go so wrong….
DeleteAgree with you both.
DeleteCondescending look and austere portrait to celebrate the 18th birthday!! 🫣
Soph.
Gorgeous girl, Happy Birthday Alexia! 🎉🎂
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! (Love the 2nd and 3rd picture, but the 1st had bad lighting).
ReplyDeleteHm. While I can appreciate these portraits from an artsy point of view, I honestly don't like them as birthday pictures. There is nothing lighthearted, youthful, energetic about them. And by that I don't mean she has to smile and be surrounded by rainbows and sunshine. There must be some sort of middle ground - I'm afraid in the first picture, she looks like a middle-aged business woman with an attitude - despite being a very beautiful young lady. The second set is better (with the white blouse) and in the end, she must like HER portrait, not the public. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDelete-Nika-
I think there are too much unfriendly comments here. Probably all those who don't like Maxima don't like the daughter that looks like her neither. Princess Amalia's picture of her 18th birthday had a dark background too. If you ever are in Amsterdam go visit the "Rijksmuseum" where the work of all the famous Dutch painters is exposed. You will find a lot of paintings with a dark background. Maybe they took a look at the paintings of the ancestors of Willem-Alexander and choose something comparable because they like that look. Happy birthday dear Alexia you are a lovely lady just like your mama.
ReplyDeleteold and ugly, "Missy"? Honestly! This young woman belongs to a generation that has already seen something: pandemic, war, flight, threat from the mafia. At the same time she looks smart and like someone who has something to say!
ReplyDeleteAgree with you! e.
DeleteI like these pics, compliments for the photographer
ReplyDeletePost a Comment
(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)