Dutch Queen’s father Jorge Zorreguieta dies aged 89
THE father of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has died aged 89, the Dutch government confirmed.
He had been ill with leukemia for several years but only recently visited the Netherlands to celebrate his son-in-law’s 50th birthday.
Born in 1928, in Buenos Aires, he became the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture after the 1976 Argentine coup d’état of General Videla and was the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock from March 1979 until March 1981.
His links to General Videla, who became president after his successful coup against the previous regime, caused controversy when his daughter was due to marry the future King of the Netherlands.
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The dictator has been accused of atrocities against civilians during his rule, but Mr Zorreguieta claimed to have been unaware of the estimated 10,000 to 30,000 people who were kidnapped and murdered.
The Dutch parliament asked Professor Baud to carry out an inquiry into his possible involvement and they concluded that it would have been unlikely for a person in such a powerful position to have been unaware of the crimes.
He was not allowed to attend the 2002 wedding, yet he was present at the christening of his granddaughters, the princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.
Mr Zorreguieta was also barred from attending Willem-Alexander's 2013 accession to the throne.
The Royal House said Mr Zorreguieta would be buried in "closed circle" with Maxima, Willem-Alexander and their three daughters in attendance.
