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Queen Maxima turns 50! Remembering her best moments over the years

From her engagement with King Willem-Alexander to the birth of her three daughters, Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane


UPDATED MAY 17, 2021 1:37 PM EDT

Today, May 17th, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands turns 50 years old. This elegant and stylish queen has had some great moments over the years. Scroll through this gallery to see our favorite moments.

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Born in 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was the daughter of a wealthy landowner, Jorge Zorreguieta and his second wife, Maria del Carmen Cerruti. She has two brothers and a sister, Ines Zorreguieta, who tragically passed away at the age of 33. This was one of the saddest and shocking moments of her life. She also has three half siblings from her father‘s first wife, Marta Lopez Gil.

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Queen Maxima and Prince Williem-Alexander met in Seville, Spain

The couple met in Seville in April 1999, during the Seville Fair. In an interview, they couple said that he introduced himself as “Alexander”, instead of King Williem-Alexander, so that she did not know he was a prince. When he told Maxima he was the Prince of Orange, she thought he was joking. They see each other again two weeks after in New York, where apparently they began their relationship.

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Her weddign to Prince Willem-Alexander in 2002

They married in a civil ceremony i followed by a religious ceremony at Amsterdam‘s Nieuwe Kerk . Maxima’s parents din’t not assist to the wedding. Her father was told he could not attend due to his role as a cabinet minister during the National Reorganization Process of Argentina, and her mother preferred not to attend without her husband.

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Birth of her first daughter, Princess Amalia

Her first daughter, Amalia, Princess of Orange, was born on December 7th, 2003. She was born at the HMC Bronovo in The Hague. She is the future heir of the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten

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Birth of their second daughter, Princess Alexia

Her second daughter, Princess Alexia, was born on June 26th, 2005. She was born in the same hospital as their first daughter. She is second in the line of succession to the Dutch throne.

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Birth of their third daughter, Princess Ariane

Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, her younger daughter was born on April, 10th 2007. She is third in line of succession to the Dutch throne.

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Queen Maxima opens fundraising campaign

Over the years, Queen Maxima has volunteer, fundraise and been involved with many charities.

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Her charisma captivates everyone, including Barack Obama

Queen Maxima met U.S. President Barack Obama at the International Ceremony at Sword Beach to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 2014 in France. She is naturally charismatic and this is apparent with all the leaders and people she meets, including Obama.

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She traveled all over the world

Queen Maxima has traveled all over the world doing diplomatic or charity work. In this image, she is with King Willem-Alexander Of The Netherlands in Alleppey, India in 2019.

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Inauguration of King Willem Alexander as Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands abdicates

On 30 April 2013, her husband succeeded his mother, Queen Beatrix to the throne and he became His Majesty King Willem-Alexander. At that moment, Maxima, officially became Queen.

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Happy and stylish family

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and King Willem-Alexander have a gorgeous and happy family of women. The queen’s three daughters take after their mother and are all stylish and well-versed women.