This Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Sultan Haitham Ben Tarik concluded the first day of his state visit to the Netherlands. In the evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima invited their Omani guest to a state banquet at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. For the occasion, Queen Máxima wore a dress of a thousand and one nights, received during a trip to Pakistan, as well as her imposing tiara of Wurtemberg pearls.
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Queen Máxima wears a richly embroidered dress received in Pakistan during the state banquet in honor of the Sultan of Oman
Sultan Haitham Ben Tarik d’Oman, 70, mounted on the Omani throne on the death of his cousin in 2020, maintains his relations on the old continent and continues official visits and state visits to Europe. After his visit to Belgium in December 2024, it was now in the Netherlands that the Omanaian sovereign was invited to a state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Welcomed in the morning of April 15, 2025 by an official ceremony on the Dam square, the sultan of Oman found the royal couple in the evening for a state banquet at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
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King Willem-Alexander, 57, and Queen Máxima, 53, were accompanied by their eldest daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21. The heiress, titled Princess of Orange, has been witnessing the state banquets organized by her parents for some time. This is an opportunity for the young woman to familiarize herself with this type of event that follows the highest protocol criteria. It is also an opportunity for Amalia to wear her mother’s tiaras, she who has a real passion for tiares. This Tuesday evening, she wore the tiara of Rubis Mellerio and the insignia newly received from the Order of the Renaissance.
Queen Máxima also dazzled her guests by turning into Maharani. Queen Máxima wore a pearly dress of a thousand and one nights. This pearl color has an impressive sewing work with its fine embroidery and inlaid pearls. According to Josine Droogendijk, this dress made by the Pakistani luxury brand Mahpara Khan, was offered to Queen Máxima when she made a trip to Pakistan on behalf of the UN in 2019. She had then visited the workshops of this fashion house and the dress was offered to her during the visit.
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The dress is inspired by a Lehenga Choli, a traditional Indian garment, with the difference that the traditional version is worn with the discovered navel. The version of Queen Máxima was specially designed to cover the navel and the stole which covers the neck and head has disappeared. Normally, this type of dress also bare arms. We therefore see the model has been modified to make it an evening dress suitable for Western dress codes. Queen Máxima also wore the collar of the order of Oman (Wisam Al-Anan), while King Willem-Alexander wore the necklace of the order of Al Said associated with the red and green ribbon of this prestigious Omanai order.
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Queen Máxima carries the tiara of Wurtemberg pearls for the arrival of Sultan Haitham
Queen Máxima wore Wurtemberg’s tiara in pearls in her almost complete version. The tiara is frequently worn but it can arise under different versions depending on the importance that we want to mean to the event. It is rare that the tiara is carried in this complete version with the eleven pearls at the top. We know at least four different versions that are possible thanks to hooks and a removable structure. This evening Tuesday evening, Queen Máxima wore him with five pearls at the top.
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The diadem of Wurtemberg decorated with pearls bears this name in reference to his first holder, Sophie de Wurtemberg, who was the first wife of King Guillaume III in the Netherlands. The first wife of Guillaume III had received this diadem set with diamonds and decorated with pearls for his marriage in 1839. The origin of the tiara is not known and it is not known if it is an order for marriage where if it existed before. A row of pearls is detachable to lighten the tiara.
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This imposing tiara did not find favor in the eyes of all the queens of the Netherlands. For example, Queen Wilhelmina wore the tiara on the other hand, Queen Juliana did not seem to appreciate her. It was during the reign of Queen Beatrix that we could admire this jewel the most. Queen Máxima has also worn it on many occasions in different versions.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor
Nicolas Fontaine was designer-editor and author for many Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in the news of royal families, Nicolas founded the Royal Stories site of which he is the editor. [email protected]
