The world of royal families and high aristocracy may seem closed off, but in reality, their lives are closely intertwined. A striking example of such connections is the friendship between Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Victoria von Hohenlohe-Langenburg, head of the ducal House of Medinaceli. This close bond, long kept out of the public eye, became widely known in 2023, when the Spanish aristocrat got married.
Victoria, heiress to the famous Mimi de Medinaceli, tied her life to Argentinean Maximilien Cornet. Their wedding became one of the year’s major society events. Despite a family dispute with her uncle, the Duke of Segorbe, which prevented the celebration from taking place at the ancestral Pilatos Palace, the ceremony retained all its splendour and significance. Among the guests were King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Máxima, and their daughter, Princess Amalia. The presence of the Dutch royals at an event that gathered the elite of European aristocracy sparked a wave of speculation. In particular, the press actively discussed a possible romance between Princess Amalia and Boris, Prince of Tarnovo, the son of the late Kardam of Bulgaria. However, it later emerged that the two are simply close friends.
But what is truly the foundation of the strong bond between Queen Máxima and the young duchess? It turns out their connection is not direct, but rather goes through Victoria’s mother-in-law. Máxima Corneille’s mother, Alexia Iribarren de Corneille, is a prominent figure in Argentina’s high society, accustomed to mingling with elite and royal circles. She is the crucial link between them. Alexia and the future Queen of the Netherlands studied together at the prestigious Northlands School in Buenos Aires. Their school friendship has withstood the test of time and distance, which explains why the Dutch royals were present at her son’s wedding.
Alexia Iribarren herself comes from an influential Argentine family. In 1996, she married the French aristocrat Alexis Corneille, which made it easy for her to enter Europe’s high society. Her father, Alfredo Iribarren, was a renowned criminal lawyer whose clients included the controversial former Argentine president Carlos Menem. Her mother, Graciela Rossi-Montero, is a successful businesswoman involved in agriculture and real estate. Thus, the deep-rooted connections forged decades ago in an elite school continue to unite Europe’s and South America’s most influential families.
Incidentally, Queen Máxima, born Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, is one of the most popular royals in modern Europe. She was born in Buenos Aires to a family of Argentine politicians. Before meeting the future King of the Netherlands, Máxima built a successful career in finance, working at leading international banks in New York and Brussels. She met Prince Willem-Alexander in 1999 in Seville. Their romance developed quickly, and by 2002 the couple was married. Máxima’s path to the throne was not easy due to her father’s political background, but thanks to her charm, intelligence, and active social involvement, she earned the love and respect of the Dutch people. Today, she not only fulfills ceremonial duties but also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, making a significant contribution to solving global economic challenges.
