Queen Máxima had her big day Tuesday as she dressed to impress for what could be called the State Opening of Parliament, with her husband King Willem-Alexander delivering the annual Speech from the Throne to the joint Houses of the Dutch Parliament. The Jan Taminiau designed dress though made her almost fall twice as she walked up the stairs of the medieval Knight's Hall, or Ridderzaal in Dutch.
The queen wore a 'hand-painted silk organza gown.' According to information from the Government Information Service its the decoration was inspired by the Japanese room in palace Huis ten Bosch. And there was an exceptional first: no hat! A royal first. Máxima did have matching hair decoration, based on the flowers from the gown. But for the queen to refrain from wearing a hat – a smart move considering the stormy weather – was short of sensational. At least in the eyes of De Standaard, a newspaper from neighboring Belgium.
The Dutch are too restrained to copy the hat extravaganza of Britain's Ascot, but over the years the annual joint session of the 'States-General' (where Staten Island gets its name from) has grown into something of a fashion show, where the media try to answer the question of 'who is wearing what hat'. In 2001, right after 9/11 and the attack on the Twin Towers, members of parliament were even asked to forgo their hats – as the opening of parliament at the time should be a sober affair.
So hatless she was, Queen Máxima on Tuesday, unlike her sister-in-law Princess Laurentien. Máxima's role is simple. She is there to support her husband, as he announces his governments plans for the next year, and reviews the state of affairs of the country. The Dutch economy is on the way up he said, but the problems in Europe and in the countries surrounding it are manyfold and at times distressing.
The royal couple travelled to parliament in the Golden Coach, built in 1898 for then Queen Wilhelmina. She was never particularly fond of the carriage, which is rather ostentatious. Wilhelmina preferred the much older Glass Coach, built for The Netherlands' first King William I.
She eventually had to give to popular demand for the more spectacular Golden Coach. Her true feelings though were revealed in her diary right after World War 2 when neither Coach was used and she was driven by car. “This was the most wonderful opening of parliament”, she wrote. “But I think I am the only one who thinks so”, she added.
The Golden Coach made its last tour of The Hague for some years to come though, as it is up for extensive repairs. Its 'rival' the Glass Coach, which was restored to its former glory only earlier this year, will see active duty again on the third Tuesday of September, since 1888 the traditional date for the parliamentary highlight. Which, by the way, technically is not an opening, as parliamentary work no longer closes.
Along the route from Noordeinde Palace to the Binnenhof, or innercourt of the Houses of Parliament, was a very familiar face. Princess Beatrix, ever supportive of her successor and daughter-in-law, watched from the Mauritshuis as the Coach passed by and Queen Máxima sent her a kiss.
© RB Hans Jacobs
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