Easter eggs are already waiting for us in the shops. It seems like they get tastier and more beautiful every year. But the most beautiful Easter egg? That is still in Máxima’s safe….
The history of the cabochon (oval, without facets) cut emerald takes us far back in time. Wilhelmina of Prussia, the wife of Stadtholder William 5, was of good descent and brought with her a large collection of emeralds when she came to the Dutch court. On March 22, 1815, about two hundred years ago, Wilhelmina determined that the green gemstones would go to her daughter Louise after her death. Fate decided otherwise. Louise died before her mother and the cabochon cut emerald eventually came into the possession of King William I via Princess Dowager Wilhelmina.
Queen Wilhelmina is the first Orange Lady to be portrayed with the jewel. Do not confuse her with the Wilhelmina from the paragraph above. There is a four generation difference between Wilhelmina of Prussia and Queen Wilhelmina. Queen Wilhelmina’s Easter egg debut took place in 1912. After shining six times, the queen closed the era in 1947 during a visit by President Mackenzie.
After taking office in 1948, Juliana ignored the cabochon cut emerald for a long time. She was first seen with the stone in 1963, during a visit by President de Gaulle.
In total, Juliana was seen with the emerald ten times.
She was last seen on Budget Day 1979 with the emerald from the estate of Wilhelmina of Prussia.
Princess Beatrix was never seen with the emerald, not even during her reign. Princess Laurentien did, by the way, on Budget Day 2004.
Queen Máxima has been seen with the ‘Easter egg’ six times so far. The first time was in 2007, during the birthday of King Harald of Norway.
State visit to China, 2015:
During the state visit to Australia, 2016:
On a diamond necklace, Germany 2017:
State visit to Portugal, 2017:
State visit to Ireland, 2019:
This blog was created in collaboration with Renske, for which many thanks!
