Dutch King and Queen Maxima Host a Lunch for King’s Commissioners

On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 26, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands hosted a lunch at Huis ten Bosch Palace for the entire Circle of King’s Commissioners. The Circle of King’s Commissioners is a consultative body for the provinces and also serves as a forum for exchanging knowledge and experiences. The current doyen is the King’s Commissioner for the province of Groningen, René Paas.

A King’s Commissioner is the presiding member of the provincial executive, the body responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the province. The King’s Commissioner also chairs the provincial council but is not a member of it. Provincial councils consist of directly elected representatives. Commissioners serve as the government’s representative at the provincial level and are appointed by royal decree for a term of six years.

Queen Máxima wears Queen Emma's Opal Brooch. Commissioned by Queen Emma from the court jeweler Eduard Schürmann & Co in Frankfurt in the late 19th century, this opal and diamond brooch features four milky white opals and a ruby set in a diamond trefoil. To date, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Queen Beatrix, Princess Margriet, and Queen Máxima have all worn this jewel.