Princess Máxima's 40th Birthday: May 17, 2011

[Fanvanmaxima]

The documentary was great, love the family shots:

Fan van Máxima » Prinses Máxima 40 jaar

Google Vertaling

[TangoUno]

Happy Birthday to the beautiful and charming Princess Maxima!!
All the best now and always.

Feliz cumple, futura Reina!

[dazzling]

Princess Máxima turns 40 on Tuesday
dutchnews.nl/ article

[lucien]

The Princess and hubby and M-I-L arriving at Noordeinde Palace this morning as the Princess handed out the annual Apples of Orange.

PPE Agency

[dbarn67]

Happy 40th Birthday Maxima!

[maximaiscool]

She looks so beautifull, unbelievable thats she is 40 years old!

Uitreiken appeltjes van Oranje, 17 mei

[lucien]

Cheers by HM and Alexander this morning:

ANP Beeldbank

courtesy anp

At the Palace during the speech on occasion of the hand-out of the Apples of Orange the Princess announced a new initiative by her in cooperation with the Orange Fund,it is called kids and music and emphasizes to have as many children as possible become aquanted with all sorts of instruments.

http://www.kinderenmakenmuziek.nl/

[queenofcelts]

AMAZING STUNNING BEAUTIFUL pictures!!! Maxima IS GORGEOUS!

[Lumutqueen]

The pictures where she is wearing the white gown are stunning, in the others she doesn't look like Maxima to me.

[CASSARD]

No familys fotos with Amalia, Ariane and Alexia? thanks

[Marika86]

Originally Posted by Fanvanmaxima

The documentary was great, love the family shots:

Fan van Máxima » Prinses Máxima 40 jaar

Google Vertaling

I watched the documentary. It was very interesting even if unfortunately without the subtitles I understood very little,only when Maxima spoke in english.
The photos are amazing,Maxima looks so elegant and beautiful. I hope for some family photo with WA and the little girls

[asturiana]

Documentary from ZDF:

Startseite - ZDF Mediathek

[Duke of Marmalade]

The documentary merely consisted of old stuff from other documentaries, containing only little new footage.

But still, Maxima is the great character among all CPs, her vibrancy and individuality stands out and its no surprise that she is so popular. For me she is the only one who was not only allowed but encouraged to stay herself and was entrusted and taken seriously within the family from the beginning. This is the result after 10 years: no other couple in waiting is as ready as WA & Maxima for the top job.

While other CPs work their butt off and still face an uncertain future because of lack of acceptance and personality, these two have managed to gain full respect and backing of the public. Good luck for the next 40 years!

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

The documentary merely consisted of old stuff from other documentaries, containing only little new footage.

But still, Maxima is the great character among all CPs, her vibrancy and individuality stands out and its no surprise that she is so popular. For me she is the only one who was not only allowed but encouraged to stay herself and was entrusted and taken seriously within the family from the beginning. This is the result after 10 years: no other couple in waiting is as ready as WA & Maxima for the top job.

While other CPs work their butt off and still face an uncertain future because of lack of acceptance and personality, these two have managed to gain full respect and backing of the public. Good luck for the next 40 years!

True!Agree with you,word for word,Your Grace..!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by lucien

True!Agree with you,word for word,Your Grace..!

Usually the "royal experts" on such programmes are boring and take themselves too seriously but the Dutch person Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen is really funny, I always enjoy her comments about Maxima & WA.

[bertie5252003]

Gosh the offical photos are beautiful the Valentio spotty is really my favourite but in each photo the glamour was just oozing from the screen. If only she looked as beautiful on a regular basis. I just was so thrilled to see them. GORGEOUS.

[Princess Luna]

Maxima looks stunning, can`t belive she is 40

[leanne]

The official photos of Princess Maxima are stunning

[dazzling]

YouTube - Máxima: Portrait of a Princess

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

The documentary merely consisted of old stuff from other documentaries, containing only little new footage.

But still, Maxima is the great character among all CPs, her vibrancy and individuality stands out and its no surprise that she is so popular. For me she is the only one who was not only allowed but encouraged to stay herself and was entrusted and taken seriously within the family from the beginning. This is the result after 10 years: no other couple in waiting is as ready as WA & Maxima for the top job.

While other CPs work their butt off and still face an uncertain future because of lack of acceptance and personality, these two have managed to gain full respect and backing of the public. Good luck for the next 40 years!

The ZDF documentairy is old indeed, but the one of the NOS (posted by Florencia) is completely new: Máxima, portret van een prinses: ma 16 mei 2011, 20:30 - Uitzending Gemist

I liked it very much, although Máxima is presented to us as some sort of super woman. from New-York to Egypt, meeting Hillary Clinton, going to Wassenaar to help out at school, very involved with Dutch society, extremely likable, sensitive etc etc. But well, I wouldn't know what else you can make. The journalist that followed her is normally the political correspondent for the NOS, so she is supposed to be critical. She emphasizes that she realises that she is allowed to do a lot of interesting and diverse things.

The documentairy seems simular of the prince of Orange, 4 years ago: 5 scenes with the family, first focus on the work abroad, afterwards more focus on the work in the Netherlands, with some interviews in between. The difference is that the interviews were not made at home in Wassenaar but after different locations, which makes it less boring to look at and which makes her plea to help X more convincing.

The princesses were asked what they liked to do most with their mother: cycling was Alexia's reply, and jumping the trampoline. Amalia said she didn't have an idea, but as long as they were together it was fine. Ariane responded that she liked cycling with her father. Amalia tried to correct her and told that she was supposed to say something about their mother, but Ariane seemed lost ans says: 'oh ja, I forgot".

When Maxima is helping out on the play yard of the school, Alexia is asking her to come inside and sit next to her in class.

The journalists asks the girls if they already knew what gift they will be giving their mother. She asked if they will make something themselves or if they are going to buy something. Amalia explains: I might buy something but it will be a waste of my money. She is saving and says: Mama doesn't want me to be inside the house playing with the DS (as she is saving for one). Ariane says she will make a painting.

Prince Willem-Alexander says: she means everything for me. Since we met each other in April '99 we became soulmates, man & wife, parents of 3 children. As a person she is unique. She stands ready for everybody 24 hours per day.

At the end the journalist asked asked about the house in Mozambique and about her remarks on the Dutch identity. Máxima said she learned a lot about the 'identity' discussion. As she wanted to pay a compliment (within the identity there are a lot of different sub identities, there are a lot of identities etc, which was also the conclusion of the WRR report). About the house in Mozambique: we listened well and we decided that such a house can never be more important than our work for the Netherlands. We have to understand why it was critisized. The house is finished, hopefully it will be sold as soon as possible.

About her future role as queen: she says not much will change. She sees it as her main task to encourage people, bring people together etc.

She also says that she feels free to say what she wants to.

The journalist asks if there are things she wants to achieve the next 10 years. Máxima sighs: there is so much! There are so many plans! But as long as I do everything good/right, I already think that will be great.

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At her birthday the princess was rather excited to announce that a project will be launched to get children into touch with music instruments. The goal was that 25% of the dutch children will be reached within 10 years.