Queen Máxima bares ankles in 'architectural' cut-off trousers

Máxima's edgy trousers unpacked

Having reported on the queen's fashion for over two years on HELLO!'s Lifestyle desk, I know that she doesn't wear culottes often, but on this occasion, they work. The culottes have also earned the seal of approval from a fashion stylist with over seven years of experience in the industry. 

"Queen Máxima's cropped trousers are a clever way to bring ease and modernity into a usually formal look," Gabrielle Mai tells us. "The wide, calf-length cut creates a clean, architectural line, giving her tailoring a softer, more contemporary edge. Paired with studded loafers by Banana Republic, the silhouette feels intentional. It is an elegant balance of practicality and polish that suits her hands-on diplomatic role." It's also a practical choice when she is doing lots of walking.

Jazzing up workwear the Máxima way

Her blazer, which appeared to be made from a wool-crepe blend, also put a modern spin on a standard workwear look. She chose a single-breasted style with sleeves that puffed at the elbows to create a bell silhouette. The look was rounded off with a crisp white poplin shirt, a classic for the workplace.

While Queen Máxima is known for her bold, colourful power suits (often turning to designers like Natan or Massimo Dutti), her choice of culottes here marks a departure from her usual tailored dresses and floor-length coats – but we're a fan.

Queen Máxima's first look in Indonesia

It's rather fitting that the royal was made the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health in September 2024, given she obtained a degree in economics from the Catholic University of Argentina and held positions as a vice president at investment banks in New York and Brussels before she married her prince in 2002. 

In light of her role, her trip to Indonesia has so far included a visit to Amartha Fintech, a microfinance marketplace, to support female micro-entrepreneurs in Kampung Batik Village in Solo City. She also paid the Reimagining Industries to Support Equality project a visit.

The project is based at Garment Factory Glory in Solo City and is financed by several major international clothing brands to contribute to the financial well-being of workers in the garment and footwear industry. 

For her double engagement day, the mother of Princess Catharina Amalia, 21, Princess Alexia, 20, and Princess Ariane, 18, wore a mustard yellow co-ord teamed with peep-toe heels in the same yellow hue and added a printed scarf around her waist.