Royal State Banquet of the Week: October 27

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were all of one day into their state visit to China before the Queen was forced to call in sick with a kidney infection. Trouper that she is, she did manage to turn up for the state banquet, because what else is she going to do with all those emeralds and a brand new dress?

Wow! Queen Maxima is wearing a fabulous Van Gogh dress (by @MattijsvBergen) in China @VanGogh2015 @NoordbrabantsM pic.twitter.com/hKaqGrLUCC

— Van Gogh Brabant (@VanGoghBrabant) October 26, 2015

Modified a runway version, her Mattjis van Bergen gown is a Van Gogh painting brought to sartorial life. Between this and her Prinsjesdag gown inspired by a room at Huis ten Bosch Palace, she's developing a knack for tossing a little Dutch pride into her outfits without draping herself in flags, which I love. (She is walking a fine line, though. I mean, it's all fun and games until someone shows up with a working windmill on their head and calls it a hat.)

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As further proof that Máx knows what she's doing when it comes to state banquets, the Van Gogh print works beautifully as a focal point for the quick posed full-length shot, but it disappears for the table shots (of which there are usually more). She kindly added a second focal point so as not to bore anyone while dining, and nothing says focal point quite like GIANT EMERALDS.

Ondanks de nierbekkenontsteking is Máxima wél aanwezig bij het staatsbanket. Ze ziet er prachtig uit! #blauwbloed pic.twitter.com/zBEyPMO9US

— Blauw Bloed (@BlauwBloedtv) October 26, 2015

Máxima is not only showing off the rocks, Easter egg emerald drop included, she's showing off the flexibility of the family collection and of the Dutch Emerald Parure. This is what she does best, and I love seeing her magpie sense at work.

Photos: NOS video screencaps, Mattjis van Bergen, Twitter