Olympic gold

Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander celebrate Olympic gold in bright orange

The pair were seen celebrating the gold medal of Juuta Leerdam, a speedskater

FEBRUARY 10, 2026 11:50 AM ESTFEB 10, 2026, 11:50 AM EST

Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander are celebrating the Olympics. Earlier this week, photos were released showing the Queen and King as they attended a special ceremony to honor Jutta Leerdam, the recent Olympic gold winner.

Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander at a special ceremony honoring Dutch gold medalist Jutta Leerdam in Milan

The photos show Máxima and Willem-Alexander with their outfits accented in orange, proudly representing their country's Olympic performance. Photos showed Willem-Alexander wearing a bright orange sweatshirt with a blue accent, reading "Team NL.

Máxima wore a cream colored shirt, pairing it with an orange scarf, showing her allegiance to her nation.

The event was hosted in Milan, following Leerdam's performance during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, where she took gold in the speed skating competition. The King and Queen were present at the sporting event, watching Leerdam's performance and cheering her on in the stands alongside their daughter and heir, Princess Catharina-Amalia.

The pair wore their nation's colors for the occasion

In a touching moment, Máxima and Willem-Alexander were photographed greeting and hugging the regents of Norway, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, who are currently facing a difficult and highly publicized moment. While the King and Queen have been out of their country to support Norwegian athletes, back home, Marius Borg, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is undergoing a complex legal trial, accusing him of rape and abuse.

Mette-Marit is also mired in controversy, recently issuing an apology due to her connection with Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that has affected Norway's perception of its royals.

Queen Máxima's military service

Following the announcement that Queen Máxima will become a reservist, the government expects another wave of applications, especially from a specific age group. — Queen Máxima is completing her reservist training

Earlier this month, Queen Máxima was photographed following her daughter Amalia's lead. The Dutch Queen is completing a military training programme to become a reservist, allowing her to serve as a part-time soldier.

Through her training, the Queen will learn several physical and mental skills, including how to shoot various firearms and how to read maps. The duty of reservists is a complex one, with them being able to serve alongside the Dutch army during emergency relief operations in case of floods and natural disasters. If a larger conflict were to develop, reservists can also join regular troops, joining them in their duties.

Photos of the Queen's training have been shared by the Dutch Royal House, hoping to inspire other citizens to enlist and support their country. According to official numbers, following Princess Amalia's enlistment in the army and graduation as a corporal, applications skyrocketed. A similar effect is expected following the Queen's service and commitment to her country.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is game for anything. And this time, she’s following her daughter Amalia’s lead, not the other way around. — The government expects another wave of applications, especially from a specific age group