Queen Máxima's sister Inés Zorreguieta found dead at home
- Published
Inés Zorreguieta had a starring role at her niece's christening in 2007
The younger sister of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has died at her home in the Argentine capital, reports say.
Inés Zorreguieta was 33 and is understood to have taken her own life.
She was bridesmaid at her sister's wedding to then Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander in 2002 and is godmother to their youngest daughter, 11-year-old Princess Ariane.
Queen Máxima, a native Argentinian, was "very shocked and very sad" at her sister's death, the royal house said.
She has cancelled her forthcoming engagements, including a state visit next week to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which King Willem-Alexander will carry out alone.
Willem-Alexander and Máxima became king and queen in 2013 when his mother abdicated
Inés and Máxima's father, Jorge Zorreguieta, died last year at the age of 89.
He had served as agriculture minister during Argentina's brutal military dictatorship - a link that caused some controversy in the Netherlands, and led to a debate in the Dutch parliament, before his daughter married the crown prince.
Queen Máxima, 47, also has two brothers, Martin and Juan, and three half siblings.
According to reports, Inés Zorreguieta had been suffering from depression. A Dutch government spokesperson told Dutch NOS TV that her death appeared to be suicide.
She is said to have worked as a civil servant in Buenos Aires.
Tributes were paid to her on an Instagram video her brother Martin posted last year of his "very beautiful and talented little sister" singing and playing the guitar.
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If you are affected by this story
From UK: Call Samaritans on 116 123 or get more details, and website links, here.
In Argentina, ring free on 135 or go the CAS Buenos Aires website, external
In the Netherlands, you can call 0900-0113 or click to go to the website, external
From Canada or US: Call 911; Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or (in the US) text HOME to 741741
- Published30 April 2013
