Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands have just celebrated a milestone – their 22nd wedding anniversary.
On February 2nd, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima celebrated their wedding anniversary in a grander style of gesture.
Their sense of fun, private jokes, and open adoration are clues to why they have one of the strongest relationships on Europe’s royal stage.
The queen is known for her fashion sense, love of bold colours and eye-catching hats.
The royal couple are focused on family and have insisted on giving their three daughters Catherine-Amalia, 20, Alexia, 18, and Ariane, 16, as close to a normal childhood as possible, away from the glare of publicity.
In April 1999, Maxima, who was working in high finance in New York, was on holiday in Seville, when she met a tall Dutch man called Willem-Alexander at a party during the Seville Spring Fair.
He didn’t tell her who he really was at first, and when he did reveal his identity, she thought it was a joke.
By May 2000, Maxima had relocated to Brussels, Belgium, and in 2001, Prince Willem-Alexander popped the question as the pair ice-skated near the royal Huis ten Bosch Palace.
Their wedding, which was set for February 2, 2002, sparked a national debate, however, as her father Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta’s past began to haunt her.
The wedding ceremony itself was held in the grand 15th century Niewe Kirch in Amsterdam in front of guests including Prince Charles, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Norway’s Prince Haakon.
The bride looked stunning in an ivory mikado silk Valentino gown with a cowl neckline, three-quarter length sleeves, a 16.4ft lace train and a tiara topped with star brooches from Queen Beatrix’s collection.
Prince Willem-Alexander was resplendent in his Captain in the Royal Netherlands Navy uniform, including a series of medals and insignia.
And as the newly married royals emerged from the church, they were greeted by an arch of swords held by Officers of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The newlyweds enjoyed their honeymoon in St Moritz before spending time with the bride’s family in Argentina and travelling to New Zealand.
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Photo credit: Getty
