State Visit from Luxembourg to The Netherlands: April 24-26, 2006

[Marengo]

Now I am over the first shock I realise the golden dress of the Queen has enough glitter to compensate. I am still somewhat disappointed that she leaves the nicest pieces locked up though, such a waste. We can only hope Maxima will have a different policy (and takes a hint from her collegue from Luxembourg).

I was hoping the Queen would wear Queen Emma's sapphire tiara, as she did in the previous incoming/outgoing statevisits with Luxembourg (and as her mother did as well). But I have to confess she looks adorable in this combination, it looks very soft on her. She seems to enjoy the visit as she smiles & smiles & smiles... Nevertheless what struck me (even before the tiara-affair did) was that she looks pale-ish and older then that I am used, a bit frail even.

Maxima's necklace seems modified, it seems 'rounder' and shorter then on older pictures (of Juliana), it looks much better this way. Margriet is wearing the emerald tiara without the emerald or pearls. It is a lovely bandeau like this, but as I said, it disappears.

The setting of the banquet looks great IMO, much better then the icy white background of The palace on the Dam. The flowers are just lovely.

--

I just saw the statebanquet on the news, the diamonds of Maria Theresa were eyecatchers, the glittered and glittered, it looked amazing!

[Hannelore]

Originally Posted by rere

I hope Maxima and Maria Teresa not wear similar outfits to the same event again. I guess both are Nathan's and the designer should know not to dress the two in similar outfits for the same event.
.

It's not the designer who dresses them! He makes the collection, they buy pieces and decide themselves what to wear when.

[Kelly]

The colors that Maxima is choosing for this state visit are really vibrant colors. The Queen looks great in her outfit.

[Maxie]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Nevertheless what struck me (even before the tiara-affair) was that she looks pale-ish and older then that I am used, a bit frail even.

Yes, I was thinking the same. Can be the light, of course.

Here's a pic of the arrival from www.koninklijkhuis.nl (original source royal images) with a iny tiny little watermark...

[Emily]

I agree with Marengo and Maxie -- the first thing I thought when I saw the Queen in her gold evening dress was how old she looked. Could it be the color of the dress against her skin? Maybe it's not her color. But I have to say -- I really don't like any of today's day or evening outfits. Maxima's gown this evening is pretty but I think she should have used a pale blue shawl to tone with the aquamarines...or something because she has a very uncoordinated look IMO.

[Maxie]

I was wondering which language they use to conversate? German? Or just good old English?

[Marengo]

I believe the Queen held her speech in english. Maxima doesn't talk german, so I assume the talk in english as well...or maybe spanish (Maxima and Marie-Theresa)?

[Maxie]

Oh yes, of course. From time to time I tend to forget that Maxima doesn't speak German. :o

[Maxie]

More pics of the arrival and the banquet from polfoto... :)

[Beate]

Is there a link availabe to the speeches? I'd love to know what was said!
Henri and Beatrix seem to be quite clsoe, which is great to see..

[Squidgy]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I have to let go of some personal frustrations:

I wonder why the Queen doesn't sell most of her jewelry collection anyway as 2/3 of it is collecting dust in the vaults and the nicest pieces haven't been seen for ages ... I wonder what thing she will hide in her hair during her state visit to Belgium, when Queen paola will be standing next to her with the diademe of the nine provinces she will probably wear the eternal floral motive tiara.

I understand your frustrations Marengo ... it would be nice to see the Queen in some other jewellry for a change, instead of seeing the same old, same old!:(

But look on the bright side. It could be worse - you could be living in Canada and not be seeing ANY tiaras at all! :)

I thought all the ladies looked pretty good this evening (although as others have said, the Queen did look a bit pale & tired). IMO, Maxima's evening attire was a big improvement over her day outfit. I had to live through the time when the bubble skirt had its 15 minutes of fame in the '80s. I can't believe I am going to be made to suffer through its resurrection!

[redfox6]

I agree. Most of the outfits were flops. Maxima's daytime outfit was okay, but the baloon skirt, as many have said is not flattering and the ankle strap shoes on both Maxima and Maria-Theresa were awful. The evening dress was almost as bad. The queen who looked lovely this afternoon, look awful in that color gold. Maxima's gown was okay, but the jewelry, including the tiara was terrible. Maxima has worn some of the worst tiaras I have ever seen. She is lovely, too bad. Maria-Thersa looked like she was in pain wearing that tiara, which she might have been. She didn't look elegant, I have seen her look much better. She has a beautiful face. She is a bit chunky and needs to stick to simple, elongated lines. You would think that someone would advise them on how to look their best.

[GlitteringTiaras]

Originally Posted by royalist

Sorry but I think both Maxima and M Teresa today's outfits are a bit awful choice for a daylight engagement...

They're sure are in a colorful mood today!

Spicy red, funky fuschia, ballon skirts galore, wide hats all around!:) These royal ladies never disappoint the royal fashionista critics.

The tiara on the Grand Duchess is a bit too big for her, no?

[Squidgy]

I fear my earlier post on clothes & jewellry was too negative ... so on to other things more positive.

The greetings that the two royal families had for each other earlier today at the airport looked to be genuinely warm. Are the Luxembourg royals close to the Dutch royals?

[christinacg]

I LOVE that Maria Teresa is wearing that tiara! We havent seen it in awhile I dont think. I think she looks great in it.

[suturegeisha]

My two cents [clothing-wise]:
Maria Teresa and Maxima both looked wonderful in their day outfits! They are both such elegant ladies. I like Maxima more and more and more as time goes on! :-D
As far as the gala dinner, I agree that it would have been nice to see some different jewels on the Queen, but she looked great nonetheless. Her gown was amazing.
Maxima's gown was very nice, the color was great on her. I don't much care for strapless gowns, but meh. Also, the aquamarine parure looked kind of strange with the color of her gown- I would have went with something with amethysts in it myself....XD
The Grand Duchess' gown was gorgeous and she looked wonderful! However, I hate that tiara on her. Grand Duchess Charlotte looked great in it, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte could just about pull it off with her regal bearing, but it is too large to suit Maria-Teresa IMO. Something a little smaller- like the Chaumet pearl tiara- would have looked better, I think.
Princess Margiet looked wonderful, like she always does....:-D

....I must say, I was really excited for this state visit. We've been so starved for tiaras for so long! XD

[stellam]

Do these Royal ladies have personal stylists? If not they should employ one soon. Maxima's balloon dress!!!!!! Marie Teresa looked lovely in her gala dinner outfit. The Queen looked as if her outfit was too heavy to wear.

Stellad

[GlitteringTiaras]

Originally Posted by stellad

Do these Royal ladies have personal stylists? If not they should employ one soon. Maxima's balloon dress!!!!!! Marie Teresa looked lovely in her gala dinner outfit. The Queen looked as if her outfit was too heavy to wear.

Stellad

I would imagine they do. Remember what you think is stylish may not be so for another.

[mandyy]

1 more state banquet photo from Getty images

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I have to let go of some personal frustrations:

I wonder why the Queen doesn't sell most of her jewelry collection anyway as 2/3 of it is collecting dust in the vaults and the nicest pieces haven't been seen for ages. If she even let's herself be outshined by a 'mere' Grand Duchess (not only in tiara, also in neclace & brooch) she might want to sell them all, as it is of no use anyway. I wonder what thing she will hide in her hair during her state visit to Belgium, when Queen paola will be standing next to her with the diademe of the nine provinces she will probably wear the eternal floral motive tiara. Margriet might leave the tiara's at home as well as she always goes out of her ways to hide the tiara in her hair. What's the use of it then? Maybe they are afraid of burglars, hence the hiding.
I do not like the tiara Maxima is wearing either, but anything is better then her horrible barbie/ star diademe IMO.

And now I am at it: it would be nice if Laurentien and Constantijn started to join these occassions as well, especially when such close neighbours are visiting!

On a more positive note: chapeau for the Grand Duchess, I was hoping to see this tiara on her, and luckily she can wear it without the diademe becoming to overwhelming.

The dress of HM is in a class of its own, I rather like it, it is very Royal, a sort of costume. The Grand Duchess looks lovely in pink, Maxima's dress isn't anything to special, usually she wears more special things.

All the jewels of the Family where put in Foundation by Queen Juliana in the 70's so it can not be sold. There are other Foundations for Artwork and Historic Peaces. That is also the reason Máxima has worn so much different tiara since her marriage. She wore The Aquamarine Tiara, the Bais of the pearl Spike RTiara without the Pearls, the Stats Tiara (Basis of the Pearl-Button-Tiara with Starts placed where normally the Buttons are), the Emerald-Tiara with upright Pearl-Spikes, the Triangular-Motiv-Necklace-Tiara and the bandeau of diamonds.
To compare no of the other Crown Princess have worn more than to Tiaras since their marriages.