The message in the royal engagement ring – Queen Máxima of the Netherlands – Royal Central

Queen Máxima’s engagement ring may be one of the most unique royal rings ever created: at its center is an orange-colored diamond that reflects the royal house she married into.

Embed from Getty Images

When the Argentine business executive met a Dutchman named “Alexander” at a party in 1999, she had no idea that he would soon reveal himself to be Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and direct heir to the kingdom’s throne. Holland.

But the couple were smitten with each other and continued their relationship until their engagement was announced on March 30, 2001. Like most modern-day royal brides, there was controversy surrounding it.

Máxima Zorreguieta’s father, Jorge, had previously served as Minister of Agriculture for General Jorge Rafael Videla – the military dictator of Argentina during her rule. Military Council– from 1979 to 1981. Although he said he was unaware of Videla’s crimes while in office, a Dutch investigation found that although he was not involved, it is highly unlikely that he was oblivious to what happened in Argentina in 1979. Time.

Although the Dutch government was reluctant to give its approval to Willem-Alexander and Maxima, it eventually relented and advised that Maxima should distance herself from her father. He did not attend the wedding, and Máxima’s mother did not attend either, in solidarity with her.

In an interview much later, Willem-Alexander revealed that he had proposed to Máxima on the ice. This can be considered another Dutch icon, as speed skating is one of the most popular sports in the Netherlands. He said he proposed to Máxima in English “To make sure she would understand it” and That Maxima said yes immediately. They recreated the moment on their social media accounts in 2021.

The future Dutch queen surprised everyone when she spoke in Dutch during her engagement interview and proudly showed off her orange diamond engagement ring.

The Maxima ring was designed by the Dutch jewelry company Steltman. It is an oval orange diamond surrounded by white emerald cut diamonds surrounded by smaller diamonds set on a white gold band.

The orange diamond represents the color of the Dutch royal family. As an Orange Nassau family, it is the family that grew up using it, and over the years, orange has become a patriotic color and symbolizes pride and unity. It is also used to represent sports teams in competition and signifies support for the country.

Queen Máxima switches the hand on which she wears her engagement ring: sometimes she is depicted with it on her right hand – a Dutch Protestant tradition, the religion practiced by Willem-Alexander; Dutch Catholics, like Maxima, wear their robes on the left hand.