Princess Maxima visits Uganda
Feb 22, 2005
THE crown princess, an Argentine by birth, took the Netherlands by storm when her engagement to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander was made public in 2000. The matter was even discussed in the Dutch Parliament.
By Joe Nam
THE crown princess, an Argentine by birth, took the Netherlands by storm when her engagement to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander was made public in 2000. The matter was even discussed in the Dutch Parliament.
Maxima now travels around the world to promote social causes especially, women economic emancipation. She is in Uganda on a working visit as a member of the Advisors Group for the International Year of Micro-credit.
She will meet women entrepreneurs, micro-finance institution leaders, the finance minister and the governor of Bank of Uganda among other dignitaries.
Microcredit has provided to millions of people in Africa especially, women who need a cash boost. Bank of Uganda plans to widen micro-credit services in the country and increase the number of beneficiaries.
The UN General Assembly designated the year 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit, in the hope that governments, banks, businesses and NGOs will make a great leap forward, thus contributing to poverty eradication by 2015.
The Princess will also visit two microfinance institutions and discuss the development of the financial sector and how it can be made more accessible through legislation and capitalisation.
Born in 1971 to Jorge and Maria Zorreguita. Maxima met her husband to be at a party in Spain. “I had heard that a prince would be at the Fiesta, but did not know he would take a keen, romantic interest in me, I was very surprised when he came to visit me in New York later.†she says.
That was the onset of the love affair that became one of the most discussed topics in Europe including her father’s post as Argentina’s agriculture minister during the rule of the country’s most brutal dictator, general Videla.
Maria’s suitability for entry into the Dutch royal family was openly questioned. But Willem had fallen in love and Maxima was a darling of the Dutch public and the press. With her beautiful spontaneous ready smile and a relaxed manner, she charmed the Dutch from day one.
The gossip magazines had looked in vain for gossip from her past. “Her smile won me over,†Willem says, “I hope that will not change after we get married.â€
When the Queen on January 31, 2000, on her 63rd birthday posed for a photo alongside Maxima and Willem, relationship was sealed. It had been given a royal stamp of approval.
They got married on Saturday 2, 2002. On December 7, 2003, Princess Catharina-Amalia was born.
THE crown princess, an Argentine by birth, took the Netherlands by storm when her engagement to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander was made public in 2000. The matter was even discussed in the Dutch Parliament.
Maxima now travels around the world to promote social causes especially, women economic emancipation. She is in Uganda on a working visit as a member of the Advisors Group for the International Year of Micro-credit.
She will meet women entrepreneurs, micro-finance institution leaders, the finance minister and the governor of Bank of Uganda among other dignitaries.
Microcredit has provided to millions of people in Africa especially, women who need a cash boost. Bank of Uganda plans to widen micro-credit services in the country and increase the number of beneficiaries.
The UN General Assembly designated the year 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit, in the hope that governments, banks, businesses and NGOs will make a great leap forward, thus contributing to poverty eradication by 2015.
The Princess will also visit two microfinance institutions and discuss the development of the financial sector and how it can be made more accessible through legislation and capitalisation.
Born in 1971 to Jorge and Maria Zorreguita. Maxima met her husband to be at a party in Spain. “I had heard that a prince would be at the Fiesta, but did not know he would take a keen, romantic interest in me, I was very surprised when he came to visit me in New York later.†she says.
That was the onset of the love affair that became one of the most discussed topics in Europe including her father’s post as Argentina’s agriculture minister during the rule of the country’s most brutal dictator, general Videla.
Maria’s suitability for entry into the Dutch royal family was openly questioned. But Willem had fallen in love and Maxima was a darling of the Dutch public and the press. With her beautiful spontaneous ready smile and a relaxed manner, she charmed the Dutch from day one.
The gossip magazines had looked in vain for gossip from her past. “Her smile won me over,†Willem says, “I hope that will not change after we get married.â€
When the Queen on January 31, 2000, on her 63rd birthday posed for a photo alongside Maxima and Willem, relationship was sealed. It had been given a royal stamp of approval.
They got married on Saturday 2, 2002. On December 7, 2003, Princess Catharina-Amalia was born.