THE PARTY WEEKEND
26-27 January 2002
The Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta invited about 300 members of the family and friends for a party weekend a week before their marriage. Among the guests among others Queen Beatrix, Prince Johan Friso, Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien, Prince Maurits, Princess Marilène, Prince Bernhard, Princess Annette, Prince Pieter-Christiaan, Prince Floris, Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme, Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme, former girlfriends of the Prince of Orange like Emily Bremers and Yolande Adriaansens both with partner. The children of Princess Christina of the Netherlands however left for the USA when they heard their paternal grandmother Edenia Guillermo had died in Florida.
On Saturday afternoon the guests were received at
Madurodam, where tourists usually can see the Netherlands on scale. At the entrance of Madurodam tens of photographers and royaltywatchers who tried to get a glimpse of the Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta. The guests arrived in blue busses. Unfortunately this Saturday the weather was very rainy, so the guests needed umbrellas. But because of the heavy wind that also wasn't really a good alternative.
Afterwards a reception took place in a grand glass hall in Madurodam. The bridal couple received a valuable draugth screen. After a speech of the Prince of Orange it was party time with music of the Blauhúster Dakkapel, which was a great success. Even the Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta were dancing as well as Queen Beatrix. At about 16:00 the guests were taken back to their hotels to dress for the evening party at Palace Noordeinde.
The party continued at Palace Noordeinde at 19:00. Máxima Zorreguieta arrived by car together with Queen Beatrix. The Prince of Orange was waiting for them at Palace Noordeinde already. Máxima wore a wonderful red silk dress. Inside South-American music sounded in the ballroom of the palace: a salsaband and a DJ. Especially for Máxima the Cuban dance orchestra Manolito Y Su Trabacho were flown in. The bridal couple and their guests swinged until the late hours.
On Sunday morning the bridal couple offered their guests a brunch at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen. It was clear the party had ended quite late when very sleepy guests and bridal couple arrived. Only Queen Beatrix seemed to have slept well while Máxima did her best to look well. Prince Claus wasn't present.