The visit officially began earlier in the day, marking the Japanese emperor and empress's first trip to the Netherlands since ascending the throne. While they had already spent time with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, including attending a Women's World Cup match between the Netherlands and Japan over the weekend, Tuesday's ceremony marked their official welcome. For the occasion, Queen Máxima stepped out in a striking green gown adorned with three-dimensional floral appliqués.
© AFP via Getty ImagesBut it was the evening banquet that delivered the event's biggest fashion moment. Held in honor of the imperial couple, the dinner also marked Princess Ariane's first appearance at a state banquet, joining her mother and sister Amalia for a dazzling display of royal glamour and historic jewels.
© AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Máxima Chooses Modern Elegance
Known for her fearless approach to fashion, Queen Máxima once again proved why she's considered one of Europe's most stylish royals.
For the state banquet, she wore a dramatic Iris van Herpen design featuring sheer detailing across the shoulders and neckline. The gown's geometric pattern faded gradually from shimmering silver to a soft nude hue, creating a sleek, elongated silhouette. She completed the look with classic nude pumps that complemented the dress's understated color palette.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAs is often the case for major royal occasions, Máxima swept her blonde hair into a side-parted chignon, allowing her jewelry to take center stage. And what jewelry it was.
The queen wore the legendary Stuart Tiara, one of the crown jewels of the House of Orange-Nassau. At its center sits the famed Stuart Diamond, a bluish stone weighing nearly 40 carats. Originally part of the British royal collection, the gem was gifted by King William III of England to Queen Mary II in 1690. After changing hands over the centuries, it eventually became one of the most recognizable symbols of the Dutch royal family.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe tiara itself was created in 1898, when Queen Emma commissioned jeweler Eduard Schürmann to design an elaborate parure for her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina's inauguration. Built around the historic diamond, it features graduated sections of scrollwork and floral motifs, many of which can be detached and transformed into earrings, brooches, and other jewelry, a hallmark of the Dutch royal collection.
© Getty ImagesAlthough several Dutch queens have worn the Stuart Tiara, Queen Beatrix was notably never photographed in it. Máxima revived the piece in 2018 without its famous center stone, proving that even stripped of its most celebrated diamond, the tiara remains breathtaking.
Princess Ariane Makes Her State Banquet Debut
One of the evening's most closely watched appearances belonged to Princess Ariane, who attended her first state banquet in spectacular fashion.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima chose a bold red gown, a color long associated with confidence, strength, and presence. The floor-length design softly skimmed her figure and featured an asymmetrical neckline that left one shoulder bare. A sculptural floral drape at the opposite shoulder added a touch of drama to the otherwise minimalist silhouette.
The gown was created by Safiyaa, the London-based luxury label founded by Daniela Karnut.
Unlike her mother and sister, Ariane wore her hair down, tucked neatly behind her ears to showcase her diamond earrings and tiara. For the occasion, she selected Queen Emma's D
© AFP via Getty ImagesCompleted in 1890, the same year the king died, the tiara arrived under tragic circumstances. Nevertheless, it became a favorite of Queen Emma and was later worn by Queen Wilhelmina before passing through subsequent generations of the Dutch royal family.
The design features three prominent diamond clusters, each centered on a large stone surrounded by smaller diamonds in a floral arrangement. Diamond tulip motifs connect the clusters, creating an elegant, distinctly Dutch aesthetic. Originally, the tiara could also be worn with five diamond stars gifted to Queen Emma as a wedding present, though Queen Wilhelmina appears to have been the last royal to wear the more ornate version.
Amalia Lets the Rubies Do the Talking
Princess Amalia returned to a color that has served her well before: deep burgundy. The Dutch heir previously wore the shade to Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan's wedding in 2023, and she chose it again for Tuesday's state banquet, this time in a gown featuring a flattering Bardot neckline and fitted bodice.
Her real statement, however, came from the jewels. Amalia wore the spectacular Mellerio Ruby Tiara, one of the most significant pieces in the Dutch royal vault and a longtime favorite of Queen Máxima. Commissioned in 1889 from the famed French jeweler Mellerio dits Meller, the tiara was originally part of a larger ruby suite gifted by King William III to Queen Emma.
© dpa/picture alliance via Getty ITaking advantage of the open neckline, Amalia also wore the suite's ruby choker. At first glance, the necklace appeared almost unfamiliar because it had been styled unconventionally, with the ruby cluster positioned to one side rather than at the center.
To balance the grandeur of the tiara and necklace, she kept her earrings understated, choosing ruby-and-diamond studs that added sparkle without competing with the rest of the ensemble.
© AFP via Getty ImagesBy the end of the evening, one thing was clear: while the state banquet celebrated the Japanese imperial couple, it was the Dutch royal women—and their extraordinary jewels—who stole the spotlight.
