Prinsjesdag Sparkle in the Netherlands

Like last year, the ceremonies were toned down considerable from their usual splendor. The royals usually process through the streets in carriages, but that part of the festivities was cancelled for the second year running. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrived at the Grote Kerk in a more casual fashion.

They were accompanied by the king’s brother, Prince Constantijn, and his wife, Princess Laurentien. In recent years, the four have been the regular attendees at the event.

Inside the Grote Kerk, King Willem-Alexander delivered the traditional speech from the throne to begin the event. The joint address to the States-General usually takes place in the Ridderzaal, but the 2021 speech was delivered in the Grote Kerk to allow for more physical distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

As always, Queen Maxima sat by her husband’s side as he delivered his speech. The dress code for this event is daytime formal—which, unusually, means that long gowns are worn with orders and jewels, but with hats rather than tiaras.

This year, Queen Maxima’s ensemble featured shades of coral and blue. Her dress featured a solid bodice in a bright shade of orange-red, with a blue floral printed skirt. She also wore the sash and star of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

With her gown, Maxima wore jewelry pieces from the Dutch royal collection. She paired diamonds and citrines with her ensemble, including diamond earrings with large citrine drops and one of the family’s diamond bow brooches. Inside the brooch’s double-haloed pendant, she placed a pear-shaped drop (likely either a citrine or a topaz).

She also wore her bracelet set with various shades and shapes of citrines/topazes. The piece just peeked out above her orange-red gloves.

Princess Laurentien wore a brocade gown with a paisley and floral print in shades of gray and tan. The sash and star of her highest Dutch order, the Order of the House of Orange, picked up on the golden colors in her ensemble.

With the dress, Laurentien wore a modern diamond necklace with a yellow gemstone pendant, as well as a modern pair of gold earrings with a literal twist. The bottom portion of the earrings are studded with lovely cabochon gems in shades of white and blue (perhaps moonstones combined with some other stones?).