The new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg have been calling on the heads of state of neighboring nations to introduce themselves, and last week they made a glittering visit to some familiar friends: the King and Queen of the Netherlands.
Grand Duke Guillaume V and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg arrived at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Wednesday for a visit with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The two nations share a deep history: from 1815 until 1890, Luxembourg and the Netherlands were ruled in a personal union. When Queen Wilhelmina ascended to the throne, female rulers were still barred in Luxembourg, so the throne passed to another member of the House of Nassau, Grand Duke Adolphe. Willem-Alexander is Wilhelmina’s great-grandson, and Guillaume is Adolphe’s great-great-great-grandson.
This wasn’t the first time that the King and Queen of the Netherlands officially met with the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess following his accession. Willem-Alexander and Máxima traveled to Luxembourg with their eldest daughter, Princess Amalia, to be present for the transfer of power ceremonies in October.
They were also present that evening for a gala dinner hosted by Guillaume and Stéphanie at the Grand Ducal Palace. Máxima brought along some of the family’s spectacular sapphires, including Queen Emma’s Sapphire Tiara, for the occasion.
For Wednesday’s luncheon in The Hague, the two heads of state wore business suits, and their wives wore smart daytime ensembles with hats.
Queen Máxima opted for a color palette that has been a particular favorite of late: shades of dark red and deep berry. She wore a Valentino cape over a coordinating Natan dress, per UFO No More. The cape is the same one that Princess Amalia borrowed for the abdication and inauguration ceremonies in Luxembourg in October.
Fittingly, Máxima wore diamonds and rubies with the ensemble. Her earrings have special resonance: they’re part of a parure of ruby jewels given to Queen Emma of the Netherlands by her husband, King Willem III. They were the last Dutch royal couple to reign in Luxembourg before the end of the personal union.
The large diamond moth brooch that Máxima pinned to her dress may also have been part of Queen Emma’s collection. Máxima finished off the look with more diamonds and rubies: her diamond and ruby tennis bracelet, a diamond-tipped bangle, and her diamond and ruby ring. The ring was a gift from Willem-Alexander to Máxima to celebrate the birth of Princess Amalia in December 2003.
Grand Duchess Stéphanie chose a lilac-pink ensemble for the luncheon with the King and Queen, wearing a coat dress from Safiyaa with an asymmetrical neckline and a hat with a large bow embellishment.
Stéphanie added sparkle to the ensemble with a pair of earrings with modern amethyst cluster drops, as well as diamond rings on both hands. She also wore a gold chain with a pendant tucked into her dress.
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