It wasn't the smoothest transition into the New Year for Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The royal spent the start of 2016 worrying about the health of her elderly father Jorge Zorreguieta, who was briefly hospitalised.
The queen's father, who turns 88 later this month, suffered a fall in his son's home in Argentina last week.
According to local reports, Jorge hit his head and was rushed to the San Carlos medical centre in Bariloche, where he was admitted for almost 24 hours and treated for head trauma.
© Photo: RexIn 2014 Máxima made a fleeting visit to Argentina when her father was ill
Meanwhile back in the Netherlands, Máxima kicked off her first royal engagement of the year on Wednesday. The stylish royal attended the Horticultural Entrepreneur Awards in the town of Lisse, which is known for its largest flower garden, Keukenhof.
While her ailing father was no doubt on her mind, Máxima, who flew to her native Argentina in 2014 to visit her dad when he was hospitalised, kept her spirits high.
The Buenos Aires-born royal wrapped up from the winter chill in a silk shift dress and completed her monochrome look with a black fedora and leather clutch.
© Photo: RexThe queen's dad Jorge Zorreguieta, pictured in 2014, suffered a fall at home last week
Máxima, 44, seems to have also fully recovered from a recent kidney infection she had at the end of last year. After developing back pain and a fever, King Willem-Alexander's wife had to cut short an official state visit to China and was flown back to the Netherlands where she was hospitalised.
In 2014 Máxima made a fleeting visit to Argentina when news that her father was ill reached her. The queen travelled incognito on a commercial flight, accompanied by two bodyguards and visited her dad in hospital for a few hours.
The queen was spotted at the Fundaleu clinic in Buenos Aires where Jorge was being treated, but fortunately for his family, a week later he was reported to be "fine and stable" and ready to go home.
