Queen Máxima

Queen Máxima was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is one of Europe's most popular royals. An economist by training, she had an international career in finance in New York when she met Crown Prince Willem-Alexander in Seville in 1999. The relationship stirred debate in the Netherlands because of her father's role as a government minister during Argentina's military dictatorship, and he was not present when the couple married in Amsterdam in 2002. Máxima nonetheless quickly won Dutch hearts with her warmth, humour and colourful style, and when her husband ascended the throne in 2013 she became queen. She has made financial inclusion her great international cause: since 2009 she has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, working to give people around the world access to banking, savings and insurance. At home in the Netherlands she is also deeply engaged in music education for children, notably through the Meer Muziek in de Klas initiative. The Queen speaks Spanish, Dutch and English, and together with the King she has three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.