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Queen Máxima of the Netherlands made history this weekend when she attended the official opening ceremony of the 10th edition of WorldPride 2026 in Amsterdam, becoming the first reigning queen to participate in Pride Day celebrations.
“Your majesty, today you are not alone,” Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema told her during ceremony. “You are here in the company of queens from all backgrounds. Welcome to the queens!”
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Máxima with drag queens.
Queen Máxima’s outfit by Natan with a hat by Berry Rutjes was a repeat from 2019, when she wore it to Royal Ascot to ride in a carriage alongside Queen Elizabeth.
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Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 2019.
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The Dutch royals with Prince William and Kate.
During World Pride, Queen Máxima held a sign reading “liefde kent geen grenzen” which translates to “Love has no boundaries.”
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Máxima during World Pride.
“Being who you are, loving who you want, that’s normal, isn’t it?” she said in her remarks, telling the gathered crowd to “hold on to each other, support each other, and enjoy it.” (Watch here)
In the reel the Dutch royals posted on Instagram (watch above), they wrote (translated from Dutch), “Amsterdam is turning every color of the rainbow. Queen Máxima is opening WorldPride 2026 in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark. The event draws global attention to the visibility, emancipation, and human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community… WorldPride stands for inclusivity, new connections, and meaningful collaborations. With residents of over 180 nationalities and a strong, vibrant LGBTQIA+ community, Amsterdam is hosting this event for the first time. WorldPride brings people together from all over the world.”
During the day, Queen Máxima also visited Sport Pride and Youth Pride at Pride Park, where she met members of the community and visited information stands. She also watched a drag performance.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.