Queen Maxima wore gold for the state dinner held by French leader Francois Hollande tonight during her two-day state visit to France
'The Queen of sparkle'
Read story, see photos after cut ...
Maxima and husband King Willem-Alexander arrived in Paris this morning
The state dinner held in their honour is part of their two-day visit
The Queen wore a gold-sequinned dress with metallic heels
French culture minister Audrey Azoulay wore a shift dress and black coat
The Dutch Queen sparkled in gold as the French culture minister Audrey Azoulay played it chic in black as they met at a state dinner in Paris tonight. Queen Maxima, 44, donned metallic stilettos for the glamorous affair but towered over president Francois Hollande's 5ft 7in stature on the two-day visit to France.
While Audrey Azoulay shunned Hollywood glamour for a safe bet in a black coat, graphic-print dress and black courts.
French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay played it chic in black for a state dinner in Paris wearing a long tailored coat
Earlier today the Dutch Queen smiled widely next to the French leader, who stood beside her with his chin resting at shoulder height as they posed for photographs outside the Elysee Palace.
While her husband King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands also had a few inches on the President.
The Argentinian born royal wasn't shy about upstaging the rest of the attendees in a show-stopping dress, including Hollande who wore a grey suit and charcoal tie.
She chose a nude sequinned dress with golden floral detailing, ending at the knee to show off her enviable pins.
The outfit was completed with statement drop earrings, bracelet, heels and even a boxy clutch bag in the metallic hue to up the glitz at the occasion.
Supermodel Lara Stone also attended the evening. The Dutch model wore a quirky peacoat with a red fur collar.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended a state dinner held by Francois Hollande in Paris, with her husband Willem-Alexander
... Stylish
After looking chic in a nude outfit earlier in the day, Maxima upped the glamour in a qlitzy dress with a netted skirt and gold embellishment
... charming
Maxima let her outfit do all the talking and wore a brown smoky eye with a hint of plum lipstick, and wore her hair in relaxed curls
Maxima, pictured with Willem, flashed her legs despite the cold weather. The outfit was completed with statement drop earrings, bracelet, heels and even a boxy clutch bag in the metallic hue to up the glitz
The Argentinian-born royal wasn't shy about upstaging the rest of the attendees in her show-stopping dress, including Hollande who wore a grey suit and charcoal tie
Audrey Azoulay, who studied economics at Paris Dauphine University, chose an elegant ensemble but also wore sequins
The royal flashed her legs despite the cold weather but may have regretted her decision as she was seen clutching a neutral pashmina ready to wrap up in.
Maxima let her outfit do all the talking with a brown smoky eye, a hint of plum lipstick and her hair in relaxed curls.
Audrey Azoulay, who studied economics at Paris Dauphine University, chose an elegant ensemble but also wore sequins.
Her shift dress boasted lilac, black and white sparkle, which Audrey paired with sheer tights, black stilettos and drop earrings.
The royals and Hollande wave to cameras as they enter the dinner past guards armed with swords
... elegant
Maxima appears bashful as she smiled for the camera in her show-stopping dress - perhaps mindful of towering over the president once again
Maxima and the French leader tap their glasses together to celebrate the evening and appear deep in conversation
The monarchs and Hollande raise their glasses to the evening held in honour of the Dutch royals
Dutch supermodel Lara Stone wore a quirky peacoat with a red fur collar teamed with pink heels and a chic shift dress
Lara looked elegant in an embellished shift with the statement fur to accessorise her outfit
The dinner today marks the first night of a two-day trip for the King and Queen of the Netherlands in a bid to deepen economic and cultural ties with France.
Ahead of their meeting with Francois Hollande this afternoon, Maxima and Willem-Alexander were treated to a welcome ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.
The pair laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as crowds made a special effort to welcome the royal couple.
Maxima donned a caramel-hued coat with brocade detailing and a statement hat, matched with caramel-hued shoes.
Queen Maxima towered over French President Francois Hollande (centre) on day one of her visit to Paris with husband King Willem-Alexander (left)
... maxima meets petite
The Dutch royal smiled widely as she greeted the French leader at the Elysee Palace. The King and Queen of the Netherlands hope to deepen economic and cultural ties with France
However, it was not just Maxima who left the President craning his neck with Willem-Alexander looking equally tall next to Francois
Later, they visited the famous Parisian gallery of the Louvre to view Rembrandt's wedding portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, purchased jointly by the Dutch and French governments for €160million (£122million).
The portraits will be alternately displayed in Paris and Amsterdam.
The royal couple, accompanied by ten business leaders, will attend an economic conference on Friday, focusing on innovation and green technology, and will visit a center devoted to helping startup companies develop.
The Dutch Queen was first handed her role of Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance in 2009 by Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.
The King and Queen of the Netherlands were pictured inside the Elysee Palace with French President Francois Hollande during their meeting
Earlier that day the pair laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe during a welcome ceremony
Crowds lined the streets in an effort to welcome the royal couple as they paid their respects to the war dead
The Queen was seen leaving a special message inside a visitors book at the site of the tomb
Maxima, who is also the Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, has been tasked with raising awareness of the benefits of financial systems that also help the poor.
In practice, this means improving access to savings, insurance and credit - all of which are particularly important in countries where famine and rising food prices can hit the poorest hard and, in the worst cases, lead to starvation and malnutrition.
Access to credit and savings also gives business a boost, and allows small farmers and entrepreneurs in poor countries to strike out on their own and move past subsistence.
... Cheery
The Queen of the Netherlands seemed delighted to be greeted by so many at today's events
The royal couple (pictured outside the Arc de Triomphe) will attend an economic conference on Friday focusing on innovation and green technology and will visit center devoted to helping startup companies develop
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