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Inside Queen Máxima's Week: From the United Nations in New York to Supporting Mental Health in Rotterdam

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands wears many hats in her professional life. One of these, which is hugely important to her, is her work as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The Queen is considered a "leading global voice on advancing universal access to and responsible usage of affordable, effective and safe financial services".

I've followed Máxima's work with the UN quite closely over the years and it's been incredible to see her utilize her pre-marriage career (Máxima was vice president of the emerging markets division of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in New York and worked for Deutsche Bank in Brussels before marrying Willem-Alexander), combining that experience with her platform. One of the most visible aspects of this role is travelling all over the world on behalf of the UN, including to its New York headquarters. Earlier this week, Máxima shared her new Annual Report with UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a bilateral meeting.

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More from the United Nations' official website:

'Written under the theme "Creating a Path Toward Resilience and Opportunity," the UNSGSA’s 2023 Annual Report showcases her strategic work over the past 12 months. It focuses on three key technical priorities, including financial health, inclusive green finance, and responsible financial inclusion in the digital economy.

The report details important strides made via a range of key activities and initiatives, such as country visits to Brazil, Morocco, and Tanzania, along with an array of impactful meetings, engagements, media appearances, and speeches.

In a concerted effort to champion access and usage of safe, affordable, and effective financial services, the UNSGSA's recent activities hold particular significance. Notably, these endeavors seek to address the financial needs and financial health of traditionally underserved groups, including the poor, women, smallholder farmers, and micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).'

Queen Máxima wrote: "In these challenging times, financial services, including payments, savings, credit, insurance, and investment products, have helped people better respond to economic and climate shocks, and remain a necessary building block for financially healthy and productive futures."

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Máxima opted for her go-to designer, Natan, opting for an olive green linen viscose dress (with many thanks to Royal Fashion Police).

Back home in the Netherlands, Queen Máxima was straight back to work in Rotterdam where she spent time supporting the Together for Mental Health programme.

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The program is a joint initiative set up by the Oranje Fonds and the MIND Foundation. The Queen is patron of the former organisation, and is committed to strengthening communities through the power of togetherness.

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Máxima donned one of her signature vibrant looks for the outing featuring a multi-colour blouse, and trousers, with matching shoes by Natan (I wouldn't be surprised if the entire look is by the designer). And the best part? Máxima's bag features a...frog :)

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Comments

  1. AnonymousThursday, 31 August, 2023

    Maxima does good work for the United Nations. Hope she will do it for many more years. css

    ReplyDelete
  2. TrickymumMonday, 04 September, 2023

    Maxima definitely has brains as well as beauty and charisma.
    On a more frivolous note, what I love about her is that she isn't afraid to sport the family heirloom jewels at every royal event she attends, even relatively casual ones.
    More power to her!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousThursday, 07 September, 2023

    I didn’t realize Maxima had such an impressive background.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marci AndyWednesday, 04 October, 2023

    Very interesting to learn about Maxima's background and how she has incorporated it in her current role. Very impressive.

    ReplyDelete

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