Queen Maxima's younger sister Ines Zorreguieta, 33, found dead in apparent suicide
Queen Maxima of Holland's younger sister, Ines Zorreguieta, was found dead at her home in Buenos Aires at the age of 33. Ines worked for the government in Argentina, in the Ministry of Social Development.
Reportedly, the Queen's sister, who was the godmother to the Queen's youngest daughter Princess Ariane, was known to have been suffering from depression. "She was always a bit of a problem child", Koninklijk Huis reporter Sander Paulus said. Inés was admitted due to anorexia in 2012 and 2016, but "it seemed to go better lately", Paulus said. "She studied singing and guitar and was an artist," he said. "She regularly came to Amsterdam."
She was the youngest daughter of the late Jorge Zorreguieta and Maria del Carmen Cerruti Carricart. The Queen has two younger brothers, Martin and Juan, and three half-sisters from their father's previous marriage — Maria, Dolores, and Angeles.
The Queen is expected to fly to her native Argentina for the funeral, as she did last summer when her father Jorge passed away due to cancer at the age of 89. The Queen will be accompanied by her husband King Willem Alexander and their three children Princesses Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane for the funeral ceremony.
Jorge was not allowed to attend her wedding in 2002 due to his role as Argentina's Minister of Agriculture during the violent regime of General Jorge Rafael Videla. However, he was allowed at her children's christenings because that was considered to be a more private affair.
The Queen's schedule had to be adjusted due to the unfortunate demise of her sister. She was due to attend the Holland Festival, a musical event, but will not be able to make an appearance any longer. She will also not be joining her husband, King Willem Alexander, on their tour of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. It has been a tough year for the Queen.
According to reports the Queen is shocked and devastated by the news of her sister's death. Her sister's suicide was confirmed by the experts of the Scientific Police and the Embassy of the Netherlands.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, had sent his condolences saying it is "intensely sad and heartbreaking".
He said, "The sudden passing away of Queen Maxima's sister comes as a great shock. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Queen and her family...I wish them all the strength they need to cope with this horrible loss. I trust that they will be afforded the space and privacy they need."
The Zorreguieta family has played an active role as landed gentry, professionals, politicians, and statesmen for generations. When their father was not permitted to attend the wedding, Ines had traveled to Hollan for her sister's wedding in 2002.
Jorge was also not allowed at the investiture of his son-in-law as the King of Netherlands on April 30, 2013, in Amsterdam. Queen Maxima became the first Latin American-born queen-consort of Holland when King Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne.