Royal Profile: HRH Princess Máxima of the Netherlands

HRH Princess Máxima of the Netherlands was born 17 May 1971, in Buenos Aires, Argentinathe daughter of Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta Stefanini (b. 1928) and his second wife María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart (b. 1944). She has two brothers, a sister and three half-sisters by her father's first wife Marta López Gil.

She attended Northlands School and Universidad Católica Argentina, where she graduated with a degree in Eonomics in 1995. She worked as an investment banker after graduating, she worked for large international Finance companies in Argentina, New York and Europe.

She met the heir to the Dutch throne when they were both attending the Seville Spring Fair: "Feria de abril de Sevilla" in 1999. At the time, she was unaware that he was a prince, as he had introduced himself as simply, Alexander. Apparently, when Alexander confessed that he was a prince, she thought he was joking! After their initial meeting, they agreed to meet again in New York City, where she was working at the time. Their relationship and eventual marriage plans were not met without controversy due to her father's involvement with the Argentine government. Thus, when she and her prince married in Amsterdam on 2 February 2002, her parents were not among the guests. On her 30th birthday, she was granted dual Argentine and Dutch Citizenship by royal decree. By Royal Decree on 25 January 2002, upon the solemnization of marriage Máxima Zorreguieta was taken up into the Dutch nobility and the titlesPrincess of the Netherlands and Princess of Orange-Nassau, and the predicate Royal Highness, were formally granted to her. By Royal Decree nr. 42 of 25 January 2002, the Princess was granted her own personal coat of arms and a personal standard.On 13 May 2011 the Dutch parliament confirmed that when the Prince of Orange ascends the throne, Princess Máxima will take the style and title of Her Majesty The Queen of the Netherlands. Rather than converting to the Reformed Dutch Church upon marriage, she remained Roman Catholic, agreeing that any of their children would be raised within the religion of the Dutch Royal Family. Together, they have three daughters who are:
  1. HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria (7 December 2003) 
  2. HRH Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien (26 June 2005) 
  3. HRH Princess Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Inés (10 April 2007) 

She is also godmother to her niece Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg and Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway.

The Princess is active in rights for women and migrants to The Netherlands. She speaks fluent English, Dutch and Spanish. She is often acting as a representative of The Netherlands at conference around the world.

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