Blooming lovely! Queen Maxima enjoys the scent of fresh flowers on a visit to a horticultural company

  • The mother-of-three was on a visit to horticultural company
  • The company specialises in a variety of edible plants and flowers
  • Maxima met esteemed chefs who talked her through their dishes 

By Bianca London for MailOnline

Published: 13:01 EST, 7 March 2017 | Updated: 14:16 EST, 7 March 2017

Resplendent in a figure-hugging brown dress, Queen Maxima of The Netherlands was treated to a lesson in edible plants on a royal visit on Tuesday.

The mother-of-three was on a visit to horticultural company Koppert Cress in Monster, Netherlands. 

The company specialises in a variety of edible plants and flowers that are used by national and international chefs, restaurants and hotels. 

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands visited horticultural company Koppert Cress on Tuesday in Monster, Netherlands

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands visited horticultural company Koppert Cress on Tuesday in Monster, Netherlands

Kipper Cress is winner of the Koning Willem I Award for sustainable entrepreneurship.

The royal was in high spirits as she toured the company, admiring a variety of plants, flowers and specialist dishes made using them.

Maxima met esteemed chefs who talked her through their dishes and she got the chance to taste and smell a variety of plants.

Maxima sniffed an edible plant at the company, which specialises in a variety of edible plants and flowers t

Maxima sniffed an edible plant at the company, which specialises in a variety of edible plants and flowers t

The royal looked chic and trim in a brown and black dress, which she accessorised with a brooch
The mother-of-three wrapped up warm in a navy coat

The royal looked chic and trim in a brown and black dress, which she accessorised with a brooch. The mother-of-three wrapped up warm in a navy coat

The edible plants and flowers are used by national and international chefs, restaurants and hotels

The edible plants and flowers are used by national and international chefs, restaurants and hotels

Maxima met esteemed chefs who talked her through their dishes and she got the chance to taste and smell a variety of plants

Maxima met esteemed chefs who talked her through their dishes and she got the chance to taste and smell a variety of plants

Her trip comes after a recent ski trip with her family to  Lech, Austria.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were joined on the getaway by their three daughters - Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.

Stylish Maxima shunned her usual brightly coloured clothing for a chic all-black ensemble, which she accessorised with a purple patterned scarf and pink aviator sunglasses. 

The princesses also looked stylish on the slopes, with Catharina-Amalia, 13, opting for all black like her mother, while Alexia, 11, and Ariane, nine, chose bold blue and red.

The chefs showed the royal how they incorporate the plants into their dishes

The chefs showed the royal how they incorporate the plants into their dishes

Maxima was in high spirits and laughed and joked with the chefs during her visit

Maxima was in high spirits and laughed and joked with the chefs during her visit

Her trip comes after a recent ski trip with her family to Lech, Austria

Her trip comes after a recent ski trip with her family to Lech, Austria

The exclusive resort of Lech has long been a favourite with royals and A-listers.

The mountain village in the Bludenz district has also been frequented by Princess Victoria of Sweden and was reported to have been Princess Diana's favourite ski destination.

Maxima, 45, and husband Willem-Alexander, 49, have long been fans of the resort - and the couple looked loved-up as they laughed and joked together on the slopes. 

Maxima was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, after meeting her husband-to-be in Seville in 1999.

Despite reportedly having no idea that Willem-Alexander was heir to the throne when the pair first met, she eventually became the Dutch Queen when her husband was crowned in April 2013.

Maxima was seen analysing the various plants as she was treated to a tour by one of her hosts

Maxima was seen analysing the various plants as she was treated to a tour by one of her hosts

Comments 5

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.