Twice a year, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Catharina-Amalia host a dinner for the members of the Dutch Council of State at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. This autumn’s dinner, held on Tuesday 27 October, gave royal watchers two very different lessons in evening dressing, one from the heir to the throne and one from her mother.
A high-street gown for the Princess of Orange
Amalia has sat on the Council of State since she turned 18, as part of her preparation for her future role as head of state. For the dinner she chose a long lime-green satin gown by Mango, with a halter-style neckline and a sheer cape in the same colour to cover the shoulders. According to Vanity Fair Italia and the Dutch broadcaster RTL, the dress comes from the Spanish label’s limited-edition capsule collection for parties and events, and the green version quickly sold out.
She finished the look with black accessories: a clutch, court shoes and long black drop earrings, with her hair worn in a side plait rather than loose. There were no tiaras that evening, as the occasion called for black tie rather than full state-banquet dress. It is a reminder that the Princess mixes couture names such as Safiyaa and Jenny Packham with more accessible labels, a balance many of us aim for in our own wardrobes.
Máxima’s clever rewear
Queen Máxima wore raspberry red, bringing back a one-shoulder Claes Iversen gown with a dramatic cape sleeve. She first wore it in 2018 at the state banquet for Singapore’s then president, Halimah Yacob, and again during the 2022 state visit to Greece. This time she gave it a fresh twist: she turned the matching belt around, so its large rectangular buckle sat at the back. Royal watchers spotted the detail in footage shared by royal photographer Patrick van Katwijk.
It is a typical Máxima move. Rather than buy something new, she adapts what she already owns, with new accessories, a different hairstyle or a small change of detail.
Bring the colours home
Lime and raspberry are bold, but they are easy to borrow in smaller doses. Fresh greens shine in peridot earrings or a deeper emerald drop, while a red evening dress is a natural partner for ruby earrings or a garnet pendant. And if you would rather rewear a favourite gown the way Máxima does, a new pair of earrings or a stack of bangles can change the whole look.
Sources: Vanity Fair Italia, “Amalia d’Olanda e sua madre Maxima, verde lime e cintura al contrario per la cena a palazzo” by Giorgia Olivieri (28 October 2026); RTL Boulevard; LINDA.nl (27 October 2026); Nouveau. Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
