In the art world, far from the glitz of European monarchies, the name of 55-year-old Dolores Zorreguieta shines brightly. She is the half-sister of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, having chosen her own path and earned recognition as an artist. Now based in New York, she has no plans to return to her native Argentina, with good reasons driven by pressure and intense public scrutiny.
Her reluctance to return is rooted in her fear of intrusive Argentine media. As the sister-in-law of King Willem-Alexander, maintaining the anonymity she desires is nearly impossible. Several years ago, in an interview, she candidly admitted her concerns, confessing that she fears media harassment. The Zorreguieta surname carries significant weight in Argentine society, largely because of her father’s past.
Her father, Jorge Zorreguieta, held a high-ranking position at the Ministry of Agriculture during the military dictatorship of Jorge Videla. This fact casts a shadow over the family’s history. Dolores is one of three daughters from the politician’s first marriage to philosopher Marta López Gil. This circumstance has greatly influenced her relationship with Máxima, who was born from her father’s second marriage.
Dolores began her artistic journey at the Prilidiano Pueyrredón National School of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires. She later moved to the United States, where she continued her studies in visual arts at New York University. Gradually, she secured her place on the art scene, organizing exhibitions in America and Europe. The artist has noted that the core themes of her work are suffering and violence. According to her, a childhood surrounded by poetry and philosophical texts had a profound impact and provided a strong theoretical foundation for her creativity.
Among her most notable exhibitions are a show at the La Nave Spacial contemporary art venue in Seville and her involvement in a project at the Cobra Museum of Modern Art in the Netherlands in 2008. She is also a regular participant in numerous group exhibitions in New York, which has become her second home.
Despite a complicated family history and different life paths, all of Jorge Zorreguieta’s children maintain close relationships built on love and mutual respect. This became especially apparent during the celebration of María del Carmen Cerruti’s 80th birthday, the mother of Queen Máxima. In total, Dolores and Máxima’s father had six children from two marriages, including the Queen of the Netherlands and her brothers Martín and Juan.
Incidentally, Queen Máxima’s own story is just as remarkable. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, she built a successful career in international finance, working at top banks in New York and Brussels. Her fateful meeting with Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands took place in Seville during the Spring Fair. Their romance blossomed quickly, but the engagement announcement sparked serious political debates in the Netherlands, stemming from her father’s past ties to Argentina’s dictatorial regime. After lengthy parliamentary discussions, it was decided that Jorge Zorreguieta would not attend his daughter’s wedding. Nevertheless, Máxima managed to win over the Dutch public. She mastered the Dutch language in record time and charmed the nation with her openness and warmth. Today, she is one of Europe’s most popular and beloved queens, the mother of three princesses, and an active public figure advocating for financial inclusion as a UN special advocate.
