Queen Maxima Gleams in Pearls and Diamonds (including a Fabulous Tiara!) in Paramaribo

There are two bejeweled state visits happening this week: the German state visit to Britain, which starts on Wednesday, and the Dutch state visit to Suriname, which began on Monday. Here’s a closer look at the jewels worn by Queen Máxima during the first day of Monday’s state visit program in Paramaribo.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands arrived at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo on Monday, where they were greeted by President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and her husband, Glenn. Suriname was a Dutch colony until 1954, and in 1975 the nation gained full independence from the Netherlands, so there is plenty of shared, complex history between the two countries. After meeting with President Geerlings-Simons and the Dutch delegation, the King and Queen laid a wreath at the statue of Mama Sranan, which symbolizes “Mother Suriname.” The statue was officially unveiled by the King’s grandmother, Queen Juliana, in 1965.

Suriname is close to the equator, so the royals dressed for warm weather in December. For the first events of the state visit, Queen Máxima wore a summery white dress with a modern eyelet design. (ModeKoninginMaxima tells us that it’s a new addition to her wardrobe, and it was made by that fashion stalwart Natan.)

Two miniature order ribbons were pinned to the bodice—the blue ribbon of the Order of the Netherlands Lion and the red ribbon of Suriname’s Honorary Order of the Yellow Star, I believe, which is visible in other images—though they got lost a bit against the busy fabric.

Máxima accessorized with a summery straw picture hat and diamond and pearl jewelry, including earrings, a bracelet, a brooch, and a ring.

Here’s a closer look at her pearl and diamond earrings, which come from Steltman. The earrings, which feature pearl studs and drops linked by a diamond string, can be worn in different lengths.

At her waist, Máxima pinned one of the treasures of the Dutch royal vaults: a gorgeous diamond and pearl double cluster brooch with a pearl drop. The jewel has been in the family collection since the nineteenth century.

She also wore a modern diamond and pearl ring, plus an eight-row pearl bracelet with a glamorous diamond and ruby clasp. If the jewels look familiar, there’s a good reason: she wore this combination during a recent official visit to France, though on that occasion she wore a shorter setting of the earrings and left the brooch’s pearl pendant at home.

The rest of the day’s events included visits to the National Assembly and the Court of Justice, as well as a poignant meeting with representatives from indigenous communities and the descendants of enslaved peoples. The royal couple participated in a discussion about the past and the future during the meeting.

In the afternoon, Queen Máxima changed into an ensemble in shades of red and berry, including a dress with a draped neckline and a picture hat. Her jewels with this second look included the earrings from the Mellerio Ruby Parure, a ruby and diamond bangle, and the family’s diamond and opal leaf brooch.

On Monday evening, the royal couple were the guests of honor at a state banquet hosted by President Geerlings-Simons.

Though this wasn’t a white-tie gala—King Willem-Alexander wore a business suit and tie—Queen Máxima delightfully arrived wearing an orange gown with a plunging neckline and a treasury of royal diamonds, including the classic Dutch Diamond Bandeau. The jewel, originally set as a necklace, was a wedding present from the Dutch people to Queen Emma in 1879. It was transformed into a bandeau-style tiara during the reign of her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina. All told, the tiara includes more than a hundred carats of diamonds.

There were more diamonds sparkling on Queen Máxima as well, including diamond earrings that belonged to Queen Wilhelmina and diamond bracelets on each wrist. On her right wrist, Máxima wore the family’s gorgeous diamond trellis bracelet, while on her left, she added one of the Dutch East Indies bracelets. She also wore the ring made from the original larger Dutch East Indies Bracelet on her right hand.