Queen Maxima Visits the Emerald Isle

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands embarked on a state visit to Ireland on Wednesday, and Maxima wore jewels that honored both nations.

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Wax ‘n Max arrived at the Presidential Mansion in Dublin on Wednesday, where they were greeted by President Higgins and his wife, Sabina. The king and queen immediately began getting down to the business of royal visits by planting a tree.

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Maxima also visited Dublin’s CoderDojo, which is part of a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community-based computer programming clubs for young people. The engagement gave us a good look at her diamond earrings, which feature orange gemstone drops. (The royal family of the Netherlands is part of the House of Orange, so Maxima has a lot of orange-themed jewels.) She also wore her fantastic padparadscha sapphire ring.

For Wednesday evening’s state banquet, Maxima appropriately chose pieces from the family’s emerald parure.

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The tiara from the suite features a trio of emerald toppers, plus a large central emerald cluster. (Originally the tiara had five emerald toppers, but two of them were repurposed as a pair of earrings.) The tiara, which was made in 1899, can also be worn with pearl toppers or in a petite all-diamond setting. (Learn more about it over here!)

Maxima wore the tiara with her own convertible emerald earrings. (Learn more about them here!)

She also wore one of my favorite emerald pieces from the Dutch vaults: the brooch from the emerald parure. For this occasion, Maxima wore it as a pendant on a diamond necklace.

She also attached the family’s large cabochon emerald pendant, which is roughly the size of a small egg. The emerald was a favorite of Queen Juliana’s, but it has been with the family at least since the reign of Queen Wilhelmina. Many speculate that the pendant is one of the Russian jewels that made its way into the Dutch royal vaults.

Maxima finished off the look with a diamond and emerald bangle.

Here’s a look at Maxima’s complete ensemble for the banquet.