Máxima’s spiky new friends! Queen of the Netherlands rescues three hedgehogs and sets them free in the grounds of a Dutch palace

• Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 52, has adopted three hedgehogs 
• READ MORE: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands perfects winter chic as she attends a meeting on financial health and education

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has rescued three hedgehogs who are now roaming freely in the gardens of the Paleis Huis ten Bosch – a royal palace in The Hague.

The mother-of-three, 52, looked absolutely delighted as she posed with one of her spiky new friends in an Instagram post on the Koninklijk Huis Instagram account.

She grinned while cradling the adorable creature, sporting a chic beige trench coat and ornate hoop earrings.

The royal’s elegant ensemble – completed with sleek blonde tresses and glamorous make-up – contrasted her industrial neon orange gloves, which shielded her hands from the animal’s spines.

A second photo also featured a cute close-up of the woodland creature. 

The mother-of-three, 52, looked absolutely delighted as she posed with one of her spiky new friends in an Instagram post on the Koninklijk Huis Instagram account

A caption explained that ‘hedgehogs are having a harder time in the Netherlands’.  

‘Due to hot summer months, the worms are deeper in the ground and there are fewer crawling insects,’ it said.

‘In recent years, more and more sick, weakened or injured hedgehogs are coming in to hedgehog shelters.

‘The hedgehog’s habitat has also become smaller due to construction and increasing traffic.’

It continued that Máxima had adopted three hedgehogs, before releasing them in the gardens of the palace. 

‘The garden and the forest area offer enough food and space for the hedgehogs through the many diverse plants and shrubs,’ the post added. 

It is of little surprise that the Queen is fond of animals – the family is very fond of their white cross, Mambo, which earlier this summer stole the show in their annual family portrait. 

It’s been a busy week for the Dutch royal, who yesterday, showed off her winter chic fashion as she attended a meeting concerning financial health and education. 

A second photo in the post also featured a cute close-up of the woodland creature in the Queen’s hands

It is of little surprise that the Queen is fond of animals – the family is very fond of their white cross, Mambo, which earlier this summer stole the show in their annual family portrait

Máxima stunned as she stepped out in a stunning beige wool belted coat, complete with a pair of dark brown boots and a glitzy clutch bag.

The purpose of the outing was for a meeting of the Constituency Program of the Ministry of Finance at the Johan de Witt House, in The Hague. The program is designed to ensure official bodies maintain a standard of financial transparency.

Máxima was seen giving a speech at the meeting and took centre stage as the attendees gathered for a group photo outside the venue.

For the meeting, the mother-of-three kept her make up subtle with a touch of pink lipstick and mascara, as well as sweeping her blonde tresses into an up-do exposing gold fish-shaped earrings.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands perfected the art of winter chic as she attended a meeting concerning financial health and education on Thursday

The busy royal has not been short of engagements in recent weeks, and only on Tuesday was seen beaming as she attended the Cultuurfonds Prize 2023 in at the Zuidplein Theatre in Rotterdam.

Máxima stunned in a Claes Iversen dress from her collection, teaming it with red suede court shoes and a matching clutch. 

The vibrant, knee-length pencil dress featured contrasting lace applique and all-over embellishment – created in shades of mulberry and red.

The wife of King Willem-Alexander completed her look with understated diamond earrings, while her blonde locks were left loose.

And last week, Máxima commanded attention in a fiery red dress as she attended an event to mark the fifth anniversary of a non-profit aiming to create a ‘debt-free country’.

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