Blue blood will mix freely with commoners on Friday evening at a gala concert in Amsterdam’s renowned Concertgebouw in honour of Princess Máxima’s 40th birthday. The Argentinian-born princess has sent out more than 700 invitations to family, friends, royalty and a number of people who have worked with her over the past ten years.

Members of the Belgian, Danish, Norwegian and Luxembourg royal families sitting in the ‘royal’ balcony can be admired by the 1,200 ‘commoners’ who have bought their tickets. The venue is sold out for this evening's concert.

Among the guests are Princess Máxima’s parents, Jorge and Maria Zorreguieta. Mr Zorreguieta was not allowed to attend his daughter’s wedding to the heir to the Dutch throne, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, because he had served as a minister in Argentina’s dictatorial Videla regime. Since the wedding, however, he has been a regular visitor to the Netherlands.

Two Liszt piano concertos with Argentinian-Israeli Daniel Barenboim as soloist will provide a full evening’s entertainment.

Mr Barenboim was born in Buenos Aires and moved with his family to Israel when he was ten. His is general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin, as well as principal guest director of La Scala in Milan.

Princess Máxima turned 40 on 17 May. She married Willem-Alexander on 2 February 2002.

(jn/dd)

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