What we all thought during The Interview
Yesterday it happened. The interview we were all looking forward to. Because it would be a historic interview, because I Máxima would love to hear him talk for so long and also because I miss Matthijs. Every day still. Shall we go through it?
1. Matthijs' gait
‘Is he nervous?’ asked my father who was sitting next to me (just vaccinated, so it was allowed). I shook my head no. I think ‘positively tense’ best described his stride. He was looking forward to it, had bitten into the Máxima material for a month, bought a beautiful suit, and wore new socks anyway. Something that is part of Matthijs' standard rituals, as I once heard him say in an interview. New socks for every broadcast and I bet everything was new for this day.
2. The lamp in the palace
How wonderful, from the Dutch Studio Drift, where dandelion petals are stuck to the lamps.
3. The magic of Matthijs
Respectful, truly impressed, polite but still equal. He uses the formal 'vous' (he learned that from the interview with Mabel he had for the publication MATTHIJS., from the makers of LINDA., in which he suggested using the informal 'tu' and which she declined), but is still equal and fearless.
4. The wallpaper in the study
Can our Lil find out where I can find something similar?
5. And also get the earrings right away
Those big gold ones she wore in various clips.
6. Máxima's notebooks
Everywhere and always the notebooks where she writes everything down. And she also keeps them in cabinets in her room. I saw that it crossed Matthijs’ mind whether he could see them, but that felt a bit rude. Now she was also writing along again. ‘What?’ Matthijs wanted to know. ‘Ordinary people,‘ was her answer. ‘Many clips are shown with famous people, but I wanted to add that it is mainly about ordinary people.’ Matthijs nodded and wanted to know in which language she had written that. With ‘in Dutch’ I think she had every republican.
7. The anecdote about the tear
She had also seen the clip with her daughters and they had turned to their father in dismay. ‘What did you do, dad, that made mom cry like that?’
8. Not angry at the Netherlands
Whether she was a bit angry at the Netherlands because we did not consider her father welcome at her wedding? No, not at all. It was her personal sadness, but that we as a country disapproved of Argentina's past and did not want to make an exception for it, actually showed a straight back. Wow.
9. Máxima's sadness
That photo of her and Inés in her study. And that you then use your sadness, fear, and shame to make others better shows great strength. I have sometimes wondered at the inauguration how it would be if she had a child like my Flo. A child that does not fit in, even dances a bit out of step, would that be hidden away? Now I know: she would be allowed to be. Máxima would give her the stage to let her and all others like her bloom.
10. The popularity
Kudos to Matthijs who filled the poison cup and then drank it empty together. About Greece, about the boat and, and I suspect a cut took place here, about Amalia's allowance. I am so curious about the polls after this conversation.
It was honest, it was unpolished, there were tears, there was a laugh and above all there was love. For her husband (‘my anchor’), her daughters, our country, her life and if I may speak for myself gratitude that we have been able to receive such a queen.
Image: Screenshot interview
