Queen Máxima of the Netherlands

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zorreguieta and the second or maternal family name is Cerruti.

Máxima (born Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti;^[a] 17 May 1971) is Queen of the Netherlands as the wife of King Willem-Alexander.

Máxima
Official portrait, 2015
Queen consort of the Netherlands
Tenure	30 April 2013 – present
Born	Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti (1971-05-17) 17 May 1971 (age 51) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Spouse	Willem-Alexander ​ (m. 2002)​
Issue	Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange Princess Alexia Princess Ariane
Father	Jorge Zorreguieta
Mother	María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart
Religion	Roman Catholic

Argentine by birth, she worked in marketing when she met Willem-Alexander, eldest son and heir apparent of Queen Beatrix, in 1999. They married in 2002, and became king and queen on the abdication of her mother-in-law on 30 April 2013. Máxima has promoted social integration of immigrants, LGBT rights, and financial inclusion. She and Willem-Alexander have three daughters, Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane, who are first, second, and third, respectively, in the line of succession.

Early life and education

 

Máxima at age 6 in 1977

Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 May 1971. She is the daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta (1928–2017), who served as Secretary of Agriculture under General Jorge Rafael Videla during Argentina's last civil-military dictatorship (1976–1983), and his second wife, María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart (born 1944). She has two brothers, a sister (deceased), and three half-sisters by her father's first wife, Marta López Gil.^{[1][user-generated source]} She is named after her paternal great-grandmother Máxima Bonorino González (1874–1965), of Italian descent. Her father was a scion of the Zorreguieta family who had been landed gentry, professionals, regional politicians, and statesmen for generations. Her maternal great-grandfather was also from the landed gentry; Domingo Carricart Etchart (1885–1953) was a landowner, politician, Director of the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, first mayor of González Chaves, and mayor of Tres Arroyos.^{[citation needed]} She also has Portuguese ancestry through her father's side, being a descendant of King Afonso III of Portugal.^[2]

She grew up in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires and studied at Northlands School, a bilingual school of the city of Olivos. She graduated with a degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) in 1995. This private university is governed by a directory of local bishops, including the current Pope Francis, then Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Grand Chancellor of UCA. During her student years, Francis presided over the traditional Mass at the beginning of classes. She later completed her studies with a master's degree in the United States.^[3]

From 1989 to 1990, while still in college, she worked for Mercado Abierto Electrónico S.A. From 1992 to 1995, she worked in the sales department of Boston Securities SA in Buenos Aires, where she conducted research on software for financial markets. From July 1996 to February 1998, she worked for HSBC James Capel Inc. in New York City, where she became vice president of institutional sales for Latin America. From then until July 1999, she was vice president of the emerging markets division of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in New York. From May 2000 to March 2001, she worked for Deutsche Bank in Brussels.^[4] She also worked as a teacher of English to children and adults, and of mathematics for high-school students and freshmen.^{[citation needed]}

Relationship with Willem-Alexander

 

Máxima and Willem-Alexander, 2001

 

The royal wedding, February 2002

 

Willem-Alexander, Máxima and their daughters on the balcony of the Royal Palace, after the abdication of Queen Beatrix in 2013

 

Willem-Alexander reads the speech from the throne on Prince's Day, with Queen Maxima at his side

 

Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander in Saba in 2013

 

Máxima in 2015 with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico

Máxima met Willem-Alexander in April 1999 in Seville, Spain, during the Seville Spring Fair. In an interview, they stated that he introduced himself only as "Alexander", so that she did not know he was a prince. She thought he was joking when he later told her that he was the Prince of Orange and heir apparent to the Dutch throne. According to the unauthorised biography "Máxima. La construcción de una reina", she was invited to Seville by a friend living in New York who openly said she would introduce her to two European princes. They agreed to meet again two weeks later in New York, where Máxima was working for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. Their relationship apparently began in New York, but she did not meet his parents, Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus, for some time.^{[citation needed]}

The news of the couple's relationship and eventual marriage plans caused controversy in the Netherlands, due to the involvement of Máxima's father Jorge Zorreguieta as a cabinet minister during the National Reorganization Process, the most recent Argentinian dictatorship. Her father's tenure as a minister took place during the beginning stages of the Dirty War (1974–82), a period of repression that saw about 30,000 people killed or disappeared during the seven-year military regime. At the request of the States General, Michiel Baud, a Dutch professor in Latin American studies, carried out an inquiry into the involvement of Zorreguieta in the Dirty War. Zorreguieta claimed that, as a civilian, he was unaware of the Dirty War while he was a cabinet minister. Baud determined that Máxima's father had not been directly involved in any of the numerous atrocities that took place during that period. However, Baud also concluded that Zorreguieta was almost certainly aware of them; in Baud's view, it was highly unlikely that a cabinet minister would not have known about them.^[5]

Marriage and family

Main article: Wedding of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti

The couple announced their engagement on 30 March 2001; Máxima addressed the nation in Dutch (which at the time she only spoke at a basic conversational level) during the live televised broadcast.^[6] Máxima was granted Dutch citizenship by a royal decree on 17 May 2001 and now has dual citizenship: Argentine and Dutch.^[7] The engagement was formally approved by the States General later that year—a necessary step for Willem-Alexander to remain in line to the throne.

Máxima and Willem-Alexander were married on 2 February 2002 in a civil ceremony in the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, which was then followed by a religious ceremony at Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk ("New Church").^[8][9] Máxima's parents were not present at the wedding; her father was told he could not attend due to his role as a cabinet minister during the National Reorganization Process, and her mother chose not to attend without her husband.^[10][11]

The couple are the parents of three daughters:

• Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, born 7 December 2003, heiress to her father's throne;
• Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, born 26 June 2005
• Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, born 10 April 2007

Activities

Queen Máxima has a particular concern for the integration of immigrants into Dutch culture. She was a member of a special parliamentary commission which sought to recommend ways to increase the participation of female immigrants in the workforce. Máxima stresses the importance for immigrants of learning the Dutch language (as she did) in order to fully participate in Dutch society. Dutch is the Queen's third language; she is also fluent in Spanish (her native language) and English. She speaks French at a conversational level.

In 2007, Máxima inadvertently caused a wave of massive criticism^{[citation needed]} when in a speech to the Scientific Council for Government Policy she said that in the seven years that she had been in the Netherlands, she had been unable to find the Dutch identity.^[12] Maxima is quoted as having said the following:

... but 'the' Dutch identity? No, I have not found it. The Netherlands is: large windows without curtains so everyone can look in; but also adherence to privacy and coziness. The Netherlands is: one biscuit at tea; but also great hospitality and warmth. The Netherlands is: sobriety, control and pragmatism; but also the experience of intense emotions together. The Netherlands is far too diverse to summarize in one cliché. 'The' Dutchman does not exist. As a consolation I can tell you that 'the' Argentinian also does not exist. I therefore find it very interesting that the title of the report of the Scientific Council for Government Policy is not 'the Dutch identity'. But: Identification with the Netherlands. That leaves room for development and diversity.^[b]

She participates in conferences around the world representing the Netherlands. She was granted a seat in the Dutch Council of State on 20 October 2004,^[13] the highest advisory body and court of administration. She was a member of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Women's Participation from July 2003 until 2005. She has a seat on the board of governors of the Chair on the Management of Diversity and Integration at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; she (along with her husband) is a patron of the Orange Fund (established to promote social welfare and cohesion in the Netherlands); and she also chairs the Board of Trustees of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity of the International Institute of Social Studies^[14] and the University of Utrecht.^{[citation needed]}

Máxima is one of the few members of royal families anywhere in the world to be an open supporter of gay rights, and was the first member of a royal family to attend an LGBT rights conference, having attended a conference concerned with LGBT rights on 5 March 2008.^[15][16]

Queen Máxima has been honorary chair of the Money Wise Platform since 2010. In this capacity, the Queen focuses attention on the importance of financial education and managing money sensibly, especially where children and young people are concerned. The Queen acts as special advisor to the Platform and consults with interested parties on ways of increasing people's financial awareness and resilience.^[17]

Since 10 June 2015, Queen Máxima has been the honorary chair of the Ambassadors for Music at School Platform. Queen Máxima has for some years been committed to giving as many children as possible the opportunity to create music.^[17]

Queen Máxima is a member of the Committee for Enterprise and Finance, which succeeded the Microfinance Council in 2011. The Queen is committed to extending the reach of various financing opportunities, both through coaching and by providing credit for new and existing small businesses in the Netherlands. She also works to increase the number of women entrepreneurs and the scope they have to expand their businesses.^[17]

External video
Queen's speech at the launch of "MIND Us"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlygYcFCR3A

Since March of 2022 Queen Máxima is a Honorary President of "MIND Us" – a mental health platform created in collaboration with the MIND Foundation.^[18][19][20]

UNSGSA

Queen Máxima currently serves as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon designated her to this role in September 2009 in order to raise awareness on the importance of inclusive financial systems for achieving economic and development goals such as poverty alleviation, food security and education. In her work as UNSGSA, the Queen focuses on how formal financial services such as savings, insurance, and credit can prevent people from falling into poverty due to expenditures on healthcare, and people who are not able to protect themselves against rising food prices and poverty because they do not have access to basic savings accounts. The role of the UNSGSA is to foster action by governments, private sector, financial system standard setters, and others towards a more inclusive financial system that works for the poor.^[21] In later years, her focus as a special advocate expanded to advocating digital financial inclusion, financial health, responsible technology for financial inclusion to support Sustainable Development Goals and agricultural finance.^[22][23] Máxima is also an advocate for increase access to financial services, improve consumer protection and enhance financial literacy.^[24] According to the UNSGSA website, she "aims to unlock development opportunities and economic inclusion for all."^[22]

Queen Máxima visited several countries on behalf of the United Nations.^[25] She also recorded video for the launch of the Global Findex Database 2021.^[26] Queen Máxima is also the honorary patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) since June 2011. In this role she works with governments and partners to advance the G20 Action Plan on Financial Inclusion, and the G20 Financial Inclusion Peer Learning Program. Previously, the Queen was a member of the Advisors Group for the United Nations' International Year of Microcredit 2005^[27] and until 2009, was a member of UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors. She also work as the Global Agenda Trustee for the World Economic Forum's Global Challenge Initiative on the Future of the Global Financial System.^[22] Máxima convened the CEO Partnership for Economic Inclusion.^[22]

Titles, honours and arms

By a decree issued on 25 January 2002, upon the solemnization of marriage, Máxima Zorreguieta was granted the titles Princess of the Netherlands and Princess of Orange-Nassau, and the style Royal Highness was formally conferred upon her. She also became "mevrouw van Amsberg" (Mrs. van Amsberg).^[28]

Another decree issued on the same day also granted her own personal coat of arms and a personal standard.^[29]

On 13 May 2011, the Dutch parliament confirmed that Máxima would become queen consort of the Netherlands upon her husband's accession, after a debate over her future title and style.^[30] On 28 January 2013, it was announced that Queen Beatrix would abdicate on 30 April in favour of Willem-Alexander.^[31] Máxima is the kingdom's first queen consort since Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, the second wife of William III. She is the first Dutch queen to have been born as a commoner, and the first to have been born outside Europe.

Royal titles and styles

• 2 February 2002 – 30 April 2013: Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mrs. van Amsberg^[32]
• 30 April 2013 – present: Her Majesty the Queen^[33] or Her Majesty Queen Máxima^[34]

Máxima's full title is: Her Majesty Queen Máxima, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau.^[33]

Honours

 

Royal standard of Queen Máxima

See also: List of honours of the Dutch royal family by country

National

•   Netherlands:
  •   Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
  •   Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta
  •   King Willem-Alexander Investiture Medal (30 April 2013)
  •   Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (6 May 2021)^[35]

Foreign

•   Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
•   Belgium:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
•   Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
•   Brunei: Member First Class of the Family Order of Laila Utama
•   Cape Verde: First Class of the Medal of Merit
•   Chile: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
•   Estonia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana^[36]
•   Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant^[37]
•   France: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit^[38]
•   Germany:
  • Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (8 October 2007)
  • Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (5 July 2021)
•   Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (31 October 2022)^[39]
•   Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic^[40]
•   Japan: Dame Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown
•   Latvia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars^[41]
•   Lithuania: Grand Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania^[42]
•   Luxembourg:
  • Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau^[43]
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
•   Mexico: Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle^[44]
•   Norway: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav^[45]
•   Oman: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Sultan Qaboos
•   Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle
•   Portugal: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Prince Henry^[46]
•   Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic^[47]
•   Sweden:
  • Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (21 April 2009)
  • Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (11 October 2022)
•   United Arab Emirates: Grand Cross of the Order of Union^[48]

Arms

Coat of arms of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands

Notes This coat of arms is used by Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.^[49] It was granted by royal decree-law of Queen Beatrix on 25 January 2002.^[29] Escutcheon Quarterly: I and IV azure billety or, a lion with coronet also or armed and langued gules, holding in his dexter paw a sword argent hilted or, and in his sinister seven arrows argent pointed and bound together or, which is of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; II and III or, a horn azure opened and bound gules, which is of the First House of Orange; an inescutcheon or bearing a castle of three towers gules flanked on each side by a poplar tree au naturel, and a river azure flowing from the base, ondoyant to the gate of the castle, which is of the house of Zorreguieta in Argentina. Symbolism   The first and fourth quarters are the coat of arms of the Netherlands, based on the coat of arms of the House of Nassau.^[49]   The second and third quarters are the coat of arms of the Prince of Orange.^[49]   In the center is the coat of arms of Queen Máxima's paternal family, the Zorreguieta family.^[49]

Notes

1. Pronunciation in Spanish ([ˈmaksima soreˈɣjeta]) and Dutch ([ˈmɑksimaː]).
2. Translated from the Dutch original.

References

1. Andrea Borella Annuario della Nobiltà Italiana, Edition XXXI Teglio (SO) 2010 S.A.G.I. Casa Editrice, vol. 1 and Ascendencia de Da. Máxima Zorreguieta, Princesa de la Corona de los Paises Bajos 3 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
2. "The World Is About To Fall In Love With The Netherlands' New Queen".
3. . Euro Channel - The Best of Europe. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015. After moving to the United States to complete a master's degree
4. . Het Koninklij Huis. Archived from the original on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
5. Human rights: Zorreguieta vs.humanrights 19 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, March 2001.
6. Engagement period 22 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Wedding 2002.
7. Ook Beatrix heeft dubbele nationaliteit 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, (Queen Beatrix also has dual citizenship), Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 6 March 2007.
8. Amsterdam Museum toont trouwtafel van Prins Willem-Alexander en Prinses Maxima 15 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Wedding 2002.
9. Princess Maxima & Prince Willem-Alexander's Wedding: A Look Back 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
10. Fox News 9 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
11. Dutch abdication: profile of Maxima Zorreguieta, Holland's new Queen consort 25 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
12. Speech Máxima on identity 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, NIS, 17 July 2008
13. "Prinses Máxima krijgt zitting in Raad van State" (in Dutch). 19 October 2004. from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
14. Iss.nl 19 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
15. FreeForm | Chicago Free Press: Judge Not... 7 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
16. "Landelijke koploperovereenkomst lesbisch". Rijksoverheid. 14 November 2007. from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
17. "Work and official duties of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands since 2002". Dutch Royal House. 15 January 2015.
18. "Máxima roept jongeren op om over mentale gezondheid te praten". Vorsten (in Dutch). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
19. van Ginneken, Door Philippine (31 March 2022). "'Haar dood maakte heel veel gevoelens los,' aldus Maxima over de dood van haar zus Inés". Jan (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
20. "Stichting MIND Us officieel gelanceerd door Koningin Máxima – MIND Us" (in Dutch). MIND Us. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
21. Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands 8 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
22. "Queen Máxima as the UNSGSA". United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. 15 September 2020. from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
23. "UNSGSA Queen Máxima to Visit Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal to Advance Financial and Digital Inclusion". United Nations Development Programme. 10 June 2021. from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
24. "Inclusive finance for development". Dutch Royal House. 15 January 2015. from the original on 17 August 2022.
25. "Country Visits". United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. 10 November 2020. from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
26. "UNSGSA Queen Máxima Remarks for the Launch of the Global Findex Database". United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. The Hague. 29 June 2022. from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
27. "International Year of Microcredit 2005". Year of Microcredit. from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
28. Decree of 25 January 2002 laying down the titles and styles of Máxima Zorreguieta and titles, names, and styles of the children who might be born from the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, Prince of Orange, Prince of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg with Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mrs van Amsberg 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Official Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. No. 41. Published: 31 January 2002
29. Decree of 25 January 2002, regarding the coat of arms and personal flag of Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima 13 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Official Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. No. 42. Published: 31 January 2002
30. Pinedo, Danielle; Versteegh, Kees (15 February 2013). "Deskundigen in NRC: Máxima kreeg te snel titel 'koningin'". nrc.nl (in Dutch). from the original on 19 September 2016.
31. www.koninklijkhuis.nl 1 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
32. "Besluit van 25 januari 2002 tot vaststelling van de titels en het predikaat van Máxima Zorreguieta en van de titels, namen en het predikaat van de kinderen die geboren mochten worden uit het huwelijk van Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Prins Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, Prins van Oranje, Prins der Nederlanden, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg met Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses Máxima der Nederlanden, Prinses van Oranje-Nassau, mevrouw van Amsberg". 31 January 2002.
33. . Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
34. "Aanspreektitels - Titels, aanspreektitels en beschermheerschappen - Het Koninklijk Huis". 14 January 2015.
35. New Honour
36. Estonian Presidency, Estonian State Decorations (Estonian) - Máxima Hollandi kuninganna
37. "Modtagere af danske dekorationer". kongehuset.dk (in Danish). 12 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
38. Koning krijgt grootkruis van Legioen van Eer 23 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine - website De Telegraaf
39. https://www.presidency.gr/^{[bare URL]}
40. Quirinale website 4 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine
41. vestnesis.lv. "Par Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanu - Latvijas Vēstnesis". www.vestnesis.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 11 June 2018.
42. State visit to Lithuania
43. Vanitatis
44. Official decree 23 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2 November 2009
45. Kongehuset
46. Portugal 17 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
47. Boletín Oficial del Estado 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
48. H.H Sheikh Khalifa welcomes HM Queen Beatrix of Netherlands 29 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine - website of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
49. (in Dutch) Wapens van leden van het Koninklijk Huis 23 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Dutch Royal House. Retrieved on 6 May 2013.

Notes

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

 

Wikiquote has quotations related to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

• Queen Máxima at the website of the Royal House

Dutch royalty
Vacant Title last held by Claus von Amsberg as Prince consort	Queen consort of the Netherlands 2013–present	Incumbent