This week, the King and Queen of the Netherlands headed to the Czech Republic for a state visit, with heirloom pearls, diamonds, and rubies packed in their luggage for the trip.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima arrived in Czechia on Tuesday ahead of a planned two-day state visit. The program of the visit had to be adjusted at the last minute because of the collapse of the Dutch government. Willem-Alexander participated in the first day of the visit as planned, but he returned home early, with Máxima stepping in as the primary representative for the second day of the program.
On Wednesday, the visit began with traditional welcome ceremonies led by President Petr Pavel and his wife, Eva Pavlova. The day’s events included a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to Milada Horáková, a leader of the Czech resistance movement during the last century, visits to the Senate and Parliament, a tour of a military base, and a meeting with the Prime Minister. They also stopped at People in Need, an organization that offers aid to refugees and others in difficult situations.
For the daytime events of the first day of the state visit, Queen Máxima wore a white Jan Taminiau dress, previously worn for the recent coronation in Britain, and coordinating accessories. She paired diamond and pearl jewelry with the outfit, including earrings with diamond cluster studs and pearl drops from the family vaults.
On her dress, she pinned an antique diamond bow brooch from the family’s jewelry collection. On this occasion, she wore it with a pendant featuring a pearl drop in a double diamond frame. The bow brooch can also be worn with other pendants. Máxima has also worn it, for example, with the diamond frame and a citrine drop, and with the large pear-shaped aquamarine pendant from Queen Juliana’s collection.
There were more pearl and diamond pieces to complete the look. On her right wrist, Máxima wore a bracelet made of numerous rows of seed pearls, gathered together by an Art Deco-style diamond and ruby clasp. She also wore a favorite modern diamond and pearl cluster ring on her right hand.
The first day of the state visit wrapped up with a traditional state banquet hosted by the presidential couple in honor of their royal visitors. For the dinner, which was held at the Presidential Palace in Prague, Máxima wore a dramatic red evening gown also made by Jan Taminiau.
She added more red with her jewels, wearing the tiara, necklace, earrings, and bracelet from the Mellerio Ruby Parure. The suite dates to the nineteenth century. It was commissioned by King Willem III and given to his wife, Queen Emma, as a Christmas present in December 1888.
The Dutch royal vaults are particularly well-stocked with diamond and ruby pieces, including another bangle-style bracelet set with diamonds and rubies. Máxima wore the bangle on her left wrist for Wednesday’s state banquet.
And on her right hand, she added another sentimental piece of diamond and ruby jewelry. This ruby ring was a personal gift to Máxima from Willem-Alexander. He gave her the jewel in December 2003 to celebrate the birth of their first child, Princess Catharina-Amalia, who is now the Princess of Orange and heir to the throne.
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