Maria del Carmen Cerruti, mother of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, lives in Buenos Aires. She leads a discreet social life, rarely attending cultural events, such as the Fernandez Blanco Museum. This year she was also seen with friends at a concert given by soprano Sara Fleming at the Círculo Italiano in Buenos Aires and at the Conciencia gala held at the Stock Exchange.
She often travels to see her grandchildren. Just recently, she was in Villa La Angostura, where she visited her son Martín Zorreguieta. It coincided with the premiere of “Máxima” in Argentina, the series that recreates the life of her eldest daughter and can be seen through a streaming platform.
He had previously flown to Europe to meet Máxima, her son-in-law King Willem-Alexander and her three Dutch granddaughters: Princess Amalia, who will succeed her father on the Orange throne, and her sisters, Princesses Alexia and Ariane.
Now, it is her children and some of her grandchildren who have traveled from different parts of the world to meet today, Friday, September 6, in Buenos Aires and celebrate María del Carmen Cerruti’s 80th birthday together.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is already in the country. She arrived accompanied by her husband and one of her daughters (it is believed that she is Princess Alexia, “the middle one”, with whom she also appeared at the Paris Olympics).
This is a private trip by the King and Queen of Orange to honour Maria del Carmen -whom they call “Maria Pame”-, a pillar in the life of the current queen of the Netherlands. “She had a great influence on her, without a title or career. I never understood why Maria Pame did not have a career. She is very intelligent and taught her daughter discipline, how to behave and manners,” Dutch writer Marcia Luyten, author of the biography “Maxima Zorreguieta, Motherland”, on which the series about the queen’s youth was based.
A memorable birthday
Only 50 invitations were sent to the intimate celebration. They will be 50 women, from the inner circle, who will celebrate with Maria del Carmen. Among the few men who will have access to the lunch are King Willem-Alexander, members of his entourage, and the Queen’s two brothers.
Martín Zorreguieta, owner of the restaurant “Tinto Bistró” and frequent host of the Royal Family when they visit Patagonia, landed yesterday in Buenos Aires. His brother Juan Zorreguieta, godfather of Princess Alexia, flew to Argentina from Austria, where he resides, so as not to miss the event.
One detail worth mentioning: to overcome “logistical” problems and to ensure that her three children could be present, “María Pame” brought forward her birthday celebration by two days; her actual date of birth is September 8, 1944.
The place chosen for the celebration is one of the best kept secrets in the family. It was revealed that it will be in a restaurant on the Costanera that the family ordered to be closed especially for the occasion, a very special place for the Zorreguietas, who have known them “forever.”
