Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands has visited a new exhibition that she stars in herself. 

The former Dutch queen was at the Palais Het Loo to see a new exhibition, Queens by Andy Warhol.

The exhibition features sixteen portraits of four queens whose reigns have become monarchical milestones.

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The four are Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of what was known as Swaziland, now Eswatini. 

Four portraits of each are included in the exhibition.

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The Royal Collection Trust acquired four of Warhol’s portraits of Queen Elizabeth in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee.

Princess Beatrix was able to tour the exhibition and speak with the curator about how it came to be. The gallery first thought of the exhibition in January 2024 when the last reigning queen of the group, Margrethe II, announced her abdication.

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Andy Warhol came up with the idea for the series of portraits at the end of his life and career. While there were 40 regular editions of the prints created, the Paleis Het Loo owns a special edition: the “Royal Edition” where the portraits are “diamond dusted” with fine shards of glass to create a glitter effect. 

The four queens had very different reactions to his request. While Beatrix happily agreed, Queen Margrethe and Queen Elizabeth were not totally enamoured but did eventually agree, and Ntombi Tfawal did not sit for Warhol. (Her portraits are based on a press photo.) 

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The portraits are created in Warhol’s iconic American Pop Art style, while brightly coloured shapes overlaid. 

The exhibition opens formally on 12 October 2024 and will run through 1 January 2025.