9 grappige feiten over onze koningin

I believe I've never met anyone who doesn't find our queen charming, articulate, well-dressed, and beautiful. Even the biggest republican always admits that we have hit the jackpot when it comes to our queen. Today Máxima turns fifty, so here are some delightful facts in a row. Lists are fun after all. Not as fun as Máxima, but still fun.

1. Máxima is messy

Maybe she has learned to be tidier by now, but as a child, she was terribly messy. For example, she was always losing her braces. One time her mother was so fed up that she made her search the trash can in a restaurant for that darn brace.

2. Secretly fast food

Máxima is stunning, but she is also just an ordinary mortal who has to work hard for her slender figure. So it's fish, fish, fish that rules the roost at the Van Oranje household. When Máxima is traveling, Willem-Alexander and the girls sneak straight to McDonald's.

3. Another prince

The story goes that there was another prince who was smitten with Máxima. I believe it was Prince Frederik of Denmark.

4. Singing between main course and dessert

Máxima comes from a musical family and can really sing beautifully. When her father had guests who stayed for dinner, Máxima always had to provide a musical interlude with singing and guitar between the courses.

5. Lunching at Cipriani's

The first lunch where they were ‘caught’ by Edwin Smulders was at Cipriani's in New York. Oh, let that be one of my favorite places in the world too.

6. Traveling the country in a wig

Máxima has often traveled around the Netherlands wearing a wig to get to know the country (anonymously) better.

7. Speaking Spanish

Despite the fact that she masters Dutch perfectly, a lot of Spanish is also spoken at home.

8. Back and forth to Argentina

As soon as it was allowed again during lockdown, Máxima regularly flew back and forth to Argentina to see her mother. She took the plane, walked with her mother, and flew back again. Back and forth is not unfamiliar to Máxima. In an attempt to be away from home for as short a time as possible, she prefers sleeping on the plane over an extra night in a five-star hotel.

9. Schnitzel with fries

All nice and well, those apple days and the variety of vegetables, but when a schnitzel is on the table, Máxima is happy.

I wish our beautiful queen a wonderful day and many years filled with joy, love, and health.