Who is Queen Máxima of the Netherlands?
QUEEN Maxima is married to King Willem-Alexander.
The couple married in 2002 and became king and queen on the abdication of her mother-in-law on April 30, 2013.
Who is Queen Maxima of the Netherlands?
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, born Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, is the wife of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 17, 1971.
In 1995, she attained a degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina followed by a master's degree in the US.
She has worked in the finance industry for over a decade including her position as the vice president of institutional sales in Latin America for HSBC and Deutsche Bank's Brussels branch.
On April 30, 2013, Maxima became the first queen consort of the Netherlands since Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont in the late 1800s.
She is also the first Dutch queen consort to have been born outside West Europe.
How did she meet the King and when was her wedding?
Maxima met Willem-Alexander during the Seville Spring Fair in Spain in April 1999.
In later interviews, the pair explained that at first the prince simply introduced himself as Alexander, so she didn't know he was a prince until later.
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Maxima thought he was joking when he first told her.
After the fair, they agreed to meet again in New York where Maxima was working two weeks later, which is when their relationship began.
The couple announced their engagement on March 30, 2001, and Maxima was granted Dutch citizenship by royal decree on May 17, 2001.
The engagement was formally approved by the States General later that year which ensures Willem-Alexander would remain an heir to the throne.
They were married in Amsterdam on February 2, 2002.
Maxima and Willem-Alexander had a civil ceremony followed by a religious one in a church.
Who are Queen Maxima's sisters?
Queen Maxima is the daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta, former Argentina Secretary of Agriculture, and his second wife Maria del Carmen Cerruti Carricart.
Jorge was unable to attend his daughter's wedding as he had served under dictator General Jorge Rafael Videla.
She has two brothers - Martin (born 1972) and Juan (born 1982) - and a sister, Inés, who sadly committed suicide.
The Queen's youngest sister, 33, worked for Argentina's Ministry of Social Development and was found in her Buenos Aires apartment on June 6, 2018.
In June 2018, Queen Maxima spoke about Inés's devastating passing for the first time while visiting a therapy centre, saying: "Today is my first day back at work after a difficult time."
She added: "My dear, gifted little sister Inés was sick too. She could find no joy, and she could not be cured.
"Our only comfort is that she has now at last found peace.
"And I would like to say how very grateful we are for the countless letters, messages and tokens of sympathy that we have received.
"They have really helped us. I'd also like to say thank you for the respect that everyone has shown my family in this very dark period. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Maxima also has three half-sisters from her father's first marriage - Maria (1956), Angeles (1958), and Dolores (1965).
Does Queen Maxima have any children?
Queen Maxima has three children with her husband King Willem-Alexander.
Her first daughter, Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, was born on December 7, 2003.
Catharina-Amalia is the heir apparent.
Second daughter, Princess Alexia was born on June 26, 2005, with third baby girl, Princess Ariane, born on April 10, 2007.
How many languages does Queen Máxima speak?
Maxima was born in Argentina where the official language is Spanish.
She is also fluent in English and can speak some French.
She began learning Dutch in 1999, and has admitted that Google Translate and kids' TV helped her pick up the language.
The Queen was granted Dutch citizenship by a royal decree on May 17, 2001.
She is now fluent in the language but always learning.
How old is Queen Máxima?
As of June 2023, Queen Maxima is 52 years old.
She was born on May 17, 1971.
She was 32 when she had her first daughter, Catharina-Amalia, and 35 when she had youngest daughter Ariane.