The Government Information Service (RVD) has released new official photos of the Dutch King and Queen on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of King Willem-Alexander’s accession to the throne. The photos were taken in September 2023 at Noordeinde Palace by Anton Corbijn.
Queen Maxima wore a ballgown by Jantaminiau along with the Stuart tiara. The Queen also wore the Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion and the Star of the Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange.
King Willem-Alexander wore a white tie, and the Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William and the Star of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
Willem-Alexander became King of the Netherlands on April 30th 2013 after the abdication of his mother, now Princess Beatrix. Events have been held throughout this year to celebrate the first decade of his reign.
Lovely photos but I prefer the less formal Queen Maxima with the wide natural grin, the messy hair and the outlandish outfits!
ReplyDeleteI agree. This is not her colour, she suits strong bold colours.
Deleteonly you
DeleteI agree with you Annie. These pics do not represent the people we know.
DeleteCongratulations AnnieM
DeleteYou have passed your test with honors to be in the Maxima OTT club.
Welcome aboard.
Thanks, Deadeggs. I'm honoured!!
DeleteIts odd but the pictures don’t look like Maxima. Its like her sensible older sister is standing in. But if they are going for dignified, elegant then I think they have nailed it. Km
ReplyDeletemy thoughts exactly. perhaps the photoshop let them down
Delete- her face looks different
- the chair was so low, looks like she's on the floor
- king's foot looks twisted
I agree!
DeleteCongrats on their first ten years! They are one of my favorite royal couples and these photos are nice. I wish I liked Max’s gown, but the pale color and huge amount of tulle are ruining this one for me.
ReplyDeleteStrange expression on Maxima's face, it doesn't look like her.
ReplyDeleteAva
Agree!
DeleteThis photo is imv a little bit odd. Maxima, although with a beautiful dress, is a very tall woman, but looks here so much smaller. Is it the model of the dress or is it on purpose so that the king looks more important. In fact she has only the title of queen but according to the constitution she has not the official status of a queen.Then her crown is imv just a little bit diagonally on her head.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics, but not the 5th where the Queen is on her knees.
ReplyDeleteMaxima is not on her knees. She is sitting on a ridiculously short stool. My favorite photo is the black and white. I wish it was a little crisper.
DeletePink isn’t her best color.
ReplyDeleteThe photographer overdid it with retouching.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Beautiful photos. The Queen looks majestic, and regal. Love her gown. The choice of jewels-- splendid.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Ava.
DeleteThese beautiful set of pics was taken by a first rate photographer, Corbijn, who also signed iconic portraits and pics of famous people throughout his career such as the first caliber group called Depeche Mode.
The artsy and mastery of this photographer is very clear.
Fashion- wise, the royal couple looks stunning.
Maxima's gown is a dainty rose dream and I like this contrast fitted bodice vs the fluffy and opulent lower part.
Q.Maxima wore the Dutch jewelry big guns, from a jaw- drapping revival of the astounding Stuart Tiara to the matching necklace and earrings.
What a concentration of great historical milestones these jewels bring to our attention!
I'd say there's s perfection all around, top notch.
Hugs for you.
Those photos do not capture Maximas sparkle. The lighting, or her make up, or both are just awful. She looks ill.
ReplyDeleteBut I love the dress and jewels.
Beautiful photos! Both of them look very good indeed. I like the last two photos the best.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
I think the King looks better without the beard !!
DeleteI don´t like these photos. Neither Willem-Alexander nor Maxima look like themselves. Awkward poses, unflattering expressions, bad lighting, weird angles. Looks very unnatural all around.
ReplyDeleteI do agree. Well said
DeleteInteresting set of comments which made me think … why did the photographer stage them at that distance on that carpet in front of those gold curtains? I’m guessing it was to use the gold as a natural frame in the photo?, but the result is a strange perspective where the King and Queen look small and not themselves. S/he’s also chosen to have them with expressions which don’t look natural for us, which again doesn’t look like “ them” as we are used to seeing such natural joy and “interested in those around them” faces and body positions. I think Maxima’s dress would have looked fantastic if she’d been photographed with her normal joy, and movement. - AnneLise
ReplyDeleteI agree with you comment. And I want to add: on a less textured background. Damsel Dragonfly
DeleteWhat in the photoshop is going on with her face? While the pictures are nice, that doesn't even look like her.
ReplyDeleteChel
I think Maxima looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent tiara and necklace.
The best we have seen her hair in a long time.
Very feminine dress.
She wore the dress and her hair like this on the state visit to Belgium earlier this year. People forget quickly.
DeleteLike most people I find that they do not look like they are in reality.
I prefer photos with real emotions. There is no joy or warmth in their facial expressions. I like the dress when Maxima stands but when she sits at the height of her husband’s knees (which is very weird) the front of the dress looks like something that washed ashore on a beach.
ReplyDeleteSuzieQ
I miss Maxima’s big smile 🥹
ReplyDeleteThese are formal portraits and historical documents, a continuation of the tradition of painted portraits of kings and queens. So I don't really expect messy hair here :-) - but I agree fully that there is something gloomy about these portraits. Even so, Máxima is beautiful. - The King has enough hair on his head ... I would wish that he stops wearing a beard. It looks ungroomed even if it is well groomed. (GM)
ReplyDelete@ GM. Some women prefer men with a beard like his. I think king Felipe should also shave his beard, he would look more than 10 years younger, but maybe Letizia likes his white beard. He makes me think of a very big dwarf.
DeleteI don't care for all the ruffles in her dress, or her hairdo. She looks ten years older.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you like. The dress is not Natan, but Jan Taminiau her hair is washed and combed and done by a professional hairdresser. She does not look older but different as does the king.
DeleteWell written, Anonymous11/11/23 16:53, my thoughts exactly; this commentor's always close to 100 % negative when it's about QM .... reminds me of Lily T.
Delete@ Anon 12/11 09:24
Delete..... when it's about both QM's : Maxima and Mathilde.
I too wonder about this commenter, who is generally negative and adds nothing constructive. I always wonder what the very negative commenters look like … are they themselves perfectly groomed, or do they allow themselves the grace to have a few faults and crinkles?! - A.L.
DeleteShe looks "like a pile of swans" 🦢🦢🦢 😅😅
ReplyDelete100% Agree.
DeleteTrès belle Maxima mais le rose trop pâle ne l'avantage pas ; la couleur soutenue comme du rouge me manque afin d'être combinée avec tous ses bijoux. Magnifique coiffure !
ReplyDeleteO dear, who are they?
ReplyDeleteLooks like the king of the Netherlands and the woman…..
Cannot be Maxima, who we always see smiling, sunburned face and arms, vivid colours and high fashion gowns instead of this sweet Barbie dress…..
Pity for the missed opportunity,
Mabel
Beautiful dress and magnificent jewellery. On my screen her hair looks grey. Very strange photos and why is she sitting so low?
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! QMax looks fabulous--her jewels are sumptious. My only issue with the photos is lighting--it washes out both Maxima and WA.
ReplyDeleteJanet
These are formal portraits. They portray exactly what they are supposed to. A historical moment in W-A's reign. We see the happy, fun loving couple regularly. Their regular family portraits document the big smiles and big personalities. These milestone portraits will always be more regal.
ReplyDeleteMaxima's dress was chosen with a purpose. It could be that her natural big energy may have overwhelmed W-A if she had been in a more saturated color. She is the less important of the two in the portraits.
All your points are correct and I agree with all of them. Well said.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Good idea with the mirrow. That is really special for royal photo sessions.. Well these are official photos and a big smile is maybe a bit out of place, even if my first impression was "Who is that?" as well when I looked at some of Maximas photos. Like her dress and the setting. Frieda
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned with the photos, Queen Maxima’s gown is the work of the talented Dutch fashion designer known as Jan Taminiau.
DeleteIn 2003 he launched his own fashion label as JANTAMINIAU.
Queen Maxima has used his talents for other important occasions and events.
He has been honored with many prizes and awards.
His atelier is in the Red-Light district in Amsterdam.
Looking at these photos decades from now, people will be impressed by the majestic elegance the king and queen display. They both look wonderful. As they are quite tall and imposing, they always carry any formal outfits particularly well. Maxima wears her tiaras like no one else, with a naturally solemn attitude that carries in the photos. Very well done in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteCH
She's gorgeous! I love the dress and her hair and makeup are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteClassic. josebabe.
ReplyDeleteThis is one Queen that looks great when she is all dressed up and hair done as well as the Queen I love with her messy hair and her smile and bright eyes. No matter what, she radiates sunshine every time I she her at events, formal and informal. ~MS~
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