Queen Maxima poses with Princess Ariane on her lap, beside King Willem-Alexander, center right, and their daughters Princess of Orange Catharina-Amalia, bottom left, and Princess Alexia, bottom right, on the top row from left, Tijo Baron Collot d’Escury, the Queen’s sister Ines Zorreguieta, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Valeria Delger and Antoine Friling, pose for a family picture taken on the baptism of Princess Ariane in The Hague, Netherlands in 2007. (Secretariat Royal House Division of the Netherlands via AP)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The youngest sister of Queen Maxima of Holland has been found dead in her apartment in Argentina’s capital.
The death of 33-year-old Ines Zorreguieta, presumably of suicide, was confirmed by Trudy Hulscher of the Royal House’s communications department. She said in an email that no further details were available.
Investigating prosecutors in Argentina said that Zorreguieta was found dead on Wednesday evening by her mother and a friend, who called 911. They also said that there are no signs of foul play, and that they are waiting for the results of an autopsy.
Zorreguieta was a psychologist who once worked for an office on social policies at the president’s office. She had also worked for the social development ministry in Buenos Aires province and at a United Nations office in Panama.
Maxima had a close relationship with her youngest sister, who was a bridesmaid at her wedding to Willem-Alexander, and a godmother to Ariane, the third child of the Dutch royals.
Her father, Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta, died last year in Buenos Aires at age 89.
HOW TO GET HELP
In the Philippines, Hopeline, a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, may be reached at (02) 804-4673; 0917-5584673; and 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers.