![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends an official welcome ceremony in Pretoria during the Dutch state visit to South Africa on October 19, 2023 (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima01.jpg?resize=1200%2C897&ssl=1)
Citrines, amethysts, and rubies—oh, my! The King and Queen of the Netherlands made a state visit to South Africa this week, and Queen Maxima packed plenty of bright, colorful gemstones in her luggage for the trip.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrive in Pretoria to begin their state visit to South Africa on October 18, 2023 (Koninklijk Huis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima02.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima landed in Pretoria on Wednesday to begin a three-day visit to South Africa. Instead of heading directly to an official welcome ceremony with President Ramaphosa, they participated in a day of engagements first, visiting a local wetland reserve and the Apartheid Museum.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visits the Blesbokspruit Wetland Reserve in Pretoria during the Dutch state visit to South Africa on October 18, 2023 (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima03.jpg?resize=1200%2C1332&ssl=1)
Queen Maxima wore navy and orange for her arrival in South Africa, paired with bold citrine drop earrings and her Steltman diamond and citrine bracelet.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pose amid the gorgeous jacaranda trees in Pretoria during their state visit to South Africa on October 18, 2023 (Koninklijk Huis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima04.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Later in the day, Maxima had a wardrobe change before posing for a gorgeous photograph among Pretoria’s beautiful purple jacaranda trees.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands poses amid the gorgeous jacaranda trees in Pretoria during the Dutch state visit to South Africa on October 18, 2023 ( (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1628&ssl=1)
For the portrait session and additional engagements, including a meeting with Dutch citizens living in South Africa, Maxima wore a dark orange and white outfit accessorized with diamonds and pearls. She chose modern earrings featuring a pearl stud and a pearl drop, but it was her brooch that was the real stunner: the diamond and pearl strawberry leaf brooch that belonged to Queen Sophie of the Netherlands (1818-1877).
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are received by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the presidential residence in Pretoria during their state visit to South Africa on October 19, 2023 (Koninklijk Huis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima06.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
On Thursday, the royal couple was received by President Cyril Ramaphosa in an official welcome ceremony in Pretoria. Ramaphosa hosted a luncheon for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the presidential residence. Afterward, they visited Freedom Park to lay a wreath.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends an official welcome ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during the Dutch state visit to South Africa on October 19, 2023 ( (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima07.jpg?resize=1200%2C1705&ssl=1)
Queen Maxima was at her Maxima maximum at the Thursday luncheon, wearing a bold blue-purple dress and matching hat. (UFO No More tells us that—no surprise—the outfit was made by Natan.) She added some sparkle via her diamond and amethyst trefoil earrings, which have been attributed to JAR, as well as her diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrive with President Cyril Ramaphosa for a performance at the State Theatre in Pretoria during their state visit to South Africa on October 19, 2023 (Koninklijk Huis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima08.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
On Thursday evening, the Dutch royals hosted a concert at the State Theatre in Pretoria as a gesture of appreciation to their hosts.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrives for a performance at the State Theatre in Pretoria during the Dutch state visit to South Africa on October 19, 2023 (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima09.jpg?resize=1200%2C1828&ssl=1)
With spangled Natan separates, Queen Maxima wore another pair of statement earrings from JAR. These feature a bronze-hued leaf design.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are greeted in Cape Town during their state visit to South Africa on October 20, 2023 (Koninklijk Huis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima10.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
On Friday, the state visit wrapped up with a visit to Cape Town, where they were greeted by Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape, and his wife, Tracy. They also met with the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. In Cape Town, the royal couple visited a museum that tells the stories of enslaved people (and interacted with demonstrators outside) and visited a community center to discuss the problem of gender-based violence.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pose near the waterfront in Cape Town during their state visit to South Africa on October 20, 2023 (Albert Nieboer/DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima11.jpg?resize=1200%2C1578&ssl=1)
With a floral dress from her archives and red accessories, Queen Maxima wore her pearl and ruby tassel earrings and sparkling bracelets, including her diamond wedding bracelet and her ruby and diamond tennis bracelet.
![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima speak with the press at the end of their state visit to South Africa on October 20, 2023 (NOS/screencapture)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1021-02-maxima12.jpg?resize=1200%2C687&ssl=1)
At the end of the visit, the royal couple spoke with reporters, addressing various topics from the visit, including the important emotions expressed by the demonstrators in Cape Town. For the interview, Queen Maxima wore a pink floral dress accessorized with diamonds, including her diamond moth brooch.
A programming note: to allow me to devote a little more time to another upcoming project—and to have time to shoulder some childcare responsibilities!—I’ll be sharing just one post on weekends for the forseeable future. Today’s post is the Saturday/Sunday article for this week. We’ll have even more royal sparkle coming your way as usual on Monday! Thanks, everyone!
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