For Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, her wedding day on 2-2-2002 in Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk was an intensely emotional affair. She was emotional throughout the induction ceremony. As she wiped away tears, she felt the painful absence of both, as well as her father, Jorge Zorreguieta, and mother, Maria del Carmen Cerruti. The absence of her father, who served as Argentina’s agriculture minister during the country’s notorious military dictatorship, weighed heavily on her heart.
Jorge Zorreguieta’s controversial past, particularly during Argentina’s Dirty War from 1974 to 1982, led to his exclusion from the royal wedding. Queen Maxima later expressed her feelings about her father’s absence, saying, “As a daughter I find it terrible that my father won’t be there but that’s the way it is, and I understand the feelings of the Dutch on the question.”
Queen Maxima’s wedding gown was a spectacular satin ivory creation by Valentino, so elegantly completed with an Empress-sized embroidered veil. Willem-Alexander wore a full-dress uniform of the Royal Netherlands Navy for the occasion. Their subsequent marriage was ratified by parliament, creating one of the great love stories in Dutch history.
Regardless of the spirited celebration, Queen Maxima struggled with her emotions. She remarked prior to the wedding, “I thought I was going to be super excited. Now the only thing I can think about is – am I ready? What the hell am I getting myself into?” These thoughts affect her and show the pressure and expectation that is already building around her arrival to royal life.
The pair in question, Willem-Alexander and Máxima, have since moved up to become king and queen of the Netherlands after Queen Beatrix abdicated in 2013. They are proud parents to three daughters: Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21, Princess Alexia, 20, and Princess Ariane, 18.
The new trailer for season two of “Máxima” has just dropped! It provides wonderful insight into Queen Maxima’s heart as she nears her wedding day. Today’s episode will focus on her planning for the ceremony and continue through Willem-Alexander’s inauguration a decade later. The series will be available for streaming on Videoland beginning March 14, 2026.
