Queen Máxima to open WorldPride 2026 in Amsterdam, a royal first

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will open WorldPride 2026 on July 25 at Vondelpark in Amsterdam, making her the first reigning queen to officially participate in an LGTBIQ+ pride event. The festival runs until August 8 under a theme of inclusion and diversity Source: Infobae. She will also visit the Pride Park's Sport Pride and Youth Pride initiatives and meet community representatives Source: El Confidencial.

Longstanding commitment

Máxima's involvement is part of a decades-long support for LGTBIQ+ rights. She attended an international LGTBI conference in 2008, the first Dutch royal to do so, and later participated in IDAHOT+ events Source: Infobae. In 2024, she chaired the IDAHOT+ forum in The Hague, warning of stagnation in acceptance Source: El Confidencial. King Willem-Alexander also visited the historic COC organization in 2016.

Institutional backing

The Dutch royal family's stance aligns with national values: the Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. In 2021, the government confirmed that heir Princess Amalia can marry a same-sex partner without losing succession rights Source: El Confidencial. Queen Mary of Denmark has also been a prominent royal supporter of LGTBIQ+ causes.