The Dutch Royal Family announced the Engagement of Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on this day in 2001, 25 years ago!
Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands announced the Engagement of Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, followed by a press conference and a walkabout in The Hague.
It is for my husband and I a great joy to announce the engagement of our son Willem-Alexander to Máxima Zorreguieta”
The Queen added that she had gotten to know Máxima as an intelligent and modern woman, courageous and loyal to those that she holds dear. HM Queen Beatrix ended her speech with the words: “we rejoice in their happiness”
After a few words from his father Prince Claus and the couple facing the questions of the press, the Crown Prince stepped out with his fiancée to greet the crowds. As you can hear and see people were very eager to meet the soon-to-be Crown Princess and the couple’s happiness paired with the crowd’s eagerness ended in many moments where Máxima was almost pulled into the masses. Switching between Dutch and English Máxima thanked many of the well-wishers before eventually returning to the Palace with her fiancé.
The couple had gotten engaged on the Ice Rink at the Huis ten Bosch Palace on Valentine’s Day, which they recreated on their 20th Anniversary.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima got married in 2002, and have three daughters, acceding to the Dutch Throne upon Queen Beatrix’s abdication in 2013.
