Happy Birthday to the King of the Netherlands! As always, a big national bash, King’s Day, was thrown to celebrate his birthday on Monday, with plenty of royal jewels out for the occasion.
Monday was King’s Day, the big party held annually on April 27 in the Netherlands to mark King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. (HM turned 59 this year. Happy birthday!) Each year, the festivities are held in a different Dutch city. This year, the celebrations were held in Dokkum in the province of Friesland. Willem-Alexander and Máxima were joined by all three of their daughters, Princesses Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane.
Several more members of the family were there, too. The King’s brother and sister-in-law were there, as were his cousins, Princess Margriet’s sons and their spouses. From left to right here in this family group photo: Prince Pieter-Christiaan, Princess Anita, Princess Aimée, Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien, Princess Marilène (whose husband, Prince Maurits, was present but not pictured here), Princess Ariane, Queen Máxima, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia, Prince Bernhard, and Prince Floris.
The event always features some of the most joyful royal photo ops of the year, with various family members participating in games and other events. Here, the King and Queen go ice skating with Princess Ariane. Willem-Alexander didn’t need much coaching. He’s an accomplished skater who completed the Frisian Elfstedentocht forty years ago, and the jacket he wears on the ice here features the logo of the committee that organizes the now-rare event.
Back on land, Willem-Alexander wore a blue business suit for his birthday party, while Máxima wore a canary yellow ensemble from Natan with a camel-colored cape and a coordinating picture hat.
She secured the big hat with several jeweled pins, but the star accessories of the show were her jewels set with diamonds and citrines. She wore a pair of elaborate diamond stud earrings from the family vaults with modern briolette-cut citrine pendants.
She also wore a bracelet featuring various cuts and shades of the honey-yellow gemstone on her right wrist and her diamond wedding bracelet on her left.
And here, as she helps ice some cookies, you’ll also spot her padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring on her right hand. The ring was a gift from her husband to celebrate the birth of their second daughter, Princess Alexia, in 2005.
The three princesses wore red and white ensembles with statement earrings for the event. Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia both wore gold earrings, while Princess Ariane opted for a pair of beaded white earrings with a floral design.
Princess Laurentien, who always goes for an eye-catching ensemble, wore grassy green for the celebrations. She accessorized with an enormous pair of earrings with pearly studs and big circle pendants, plus a beaded brooch on her lapel. Her ring comes from the jewelry collection designed by another Dutch royal cousin, Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma.
Princess Marilène wore neutrals for the day, including a pair of statement earrings that echo natural materials with their color palette.
Princess Anita wore an ivory-colored coat and dress, paired with modern sparkling earrings and a pendant with a trio of graduated stones.
And Princess Aimée chose a pair of gold statement hoop earrings to wear with her blue blouse and trousers. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that enormous ring with a green gemstone on Prince Bernhard’s right hand!
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