Máxima travels a lot. If one suitcase is not yet empty, the next one must be filled. Visitor Irene wondered how Máxima’s suitcases are packed. You can read the answer in this blog.
Well before a state visit starts, part of the royal household goes on an inspection. Information is collected on the spot about the weather, the environment, politically sensitive colors, national flowers, and so on. When she returns home, all the do’s and don’ts are passed on to Queen Máxima, so that she knows exactly what she can and cannot take with her.
There is no stylist involved when selecting the outfits. Máxima’s maid Jolanda is responsible for the practical side of Máxima’s wardrobe, but the queen decides for herself what she will or will not take with her when traveling.
Often that works out very well, sometimes not. The gray cloak with ‘swastikas’, which was worn in a former SS area, is a good example of this.
About four to seven outfits are shown per state visit. Because a stain or downpour is always lurking, even among majesties, some spare outfits are always taken along. During the state visit to Belgium, it rained heavily on day three. While the press was offered lunch at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, the king’s valet and Máxima’s maid + hairdresser came in for a quick check-up. In the corner of my eye I also saw a filled clothes bag passing by. In the end it was not unzipped.
During the regional visit to the Wadden Islands, maid Jolanda also traveled forward, from island to island. In addition to some necessities for makeup, she also had a clothing bag with a tag on it saying reserve. Unfortunately, this cover also remained unopened, otherwise we would have seen a second outfit that day.
It is often said that the queen always carries a black outfit with her, just in case. I dare to doubt that, because when Pim Fortuyn was shot dead and Willem-Alexander and Máxima had to cancel their visit to the Antilles, they simply wore light colors during the last ceremonies and departure.
So extra sets are included and I have actually already given away a bit about how all the beautiful things are transported. To prevent wrinkles and dents, the outfits are transported in a garment bag. During the state visit to Portugal, maid Jolanda had Máxima’s outfits with her and hairdresser Martina took care of the hats (box) and make-up case. The jewelry is of course the responsibility of the security.
Before a state visit starts, a whole load of suitcases is already sent ahead. This reportedly includes sports materials, a handheld steamer and a printer. Depending on the location, the luggage is transported by truck or plane.
Dress A or B
Because Jolanda obviously has to put the right dresses in the garment bag, careful consultation takes place with the queen in advance. Dress A is for day 1, dress B for day 2, etc. This way Jolanda knows exactly which dress she needs to steam and hang up that morning/afternoon/evening.
But… the layout is not set in stone. As I type this, an incident from Mary & Letizia comes to mind. In May 2004, Letizia was in Denmark for Mary & Frederik’s big day. For the gala on the evening before, Letizia had brought a bright red dress with a train and for the IDo the next day, a two-piece set with a patterned jacket. Once she arrived in Denmark, Letizia was told that Mary would also wear a red evening dress on the eve of her wedding. And also a red dress that looked very similar to Letizia’s. At the last minute, the latter switched her dresses so that Mary would be the center of attention and not her.
Letizia chose this dress for the eve of Mary’s wedding, but she wore it the next day, during the I do:
Mary’s dress:
Example 3: during the official visit to Vietnam, Máxima bumped her foot, causing her to have a sore toe. Wearing heels turned out to be too painful, so someone had to go to the local market for matching slippers. Anyone who wondered why Maxima was wearing slippers at the time now has an answer.
Conclusions: royal fashion moves with current events + there is consultation between Máxima and her maid + actually everyone could use a maid.
