This is the sweet moment Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands comforted an Olympic athlete who was on the verge of winning a medal.
The royal couple looked in high spirits as they watched the women’s mountain bike cross-country finals at the Paris Olympics.
Dutch rider Puck Pieterse held on to her second position throughout the race.
But a late puncture meant she was unable to catch Jenny Rissved of Sweden, and she eventually finished fourth, missing out on a chance of winning a gold, silver or bronze medal.
Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander rushed to sweetly console her after the race, as the athlete tried to hold back her tears.
In a video posted online by Dutch broadcaster USMáxima can be seen giving him a hug, while reminding him that he has achieved a lot at just 22 years old.
This is the sweet moment Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands comforted Puck Pieterse after she came close to winning a medal.
Willem added: “It’s fantastic. The whole of the Netherlands really thinks it’s amazing what you do.”
“It won’t mean anything to you now,” the royals wished her “all the best.”
Royal fans were left in awe after Puck was personally congratulated by the monarchs, with one gushing: “Imagine being comforted by your King and Queen!”
Others said: ‘Aww I love this’;
‘Very sweet and strong words from the king and queen! They make me feel a little proud of our country’;
“This is our king and queen. We can only be very proud of that”;
“Very sweet and really we Dutch people are proud of you and all of you”;
Máxima reminded Puck of all he had achieved, while Willem said that everyone in the Netherlands finds her “amazing.”
Royal fans were left in awe after Puck was personally congratulated by the monarchs.
“It’s nice to see that our royal couple is there and that people are cheering us on and supporting us”;
‘At the moment I find the king and queen really wonderful and human… and I have nothing to do with the royal family.’
The royal couple were joined by their daughters Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, 20, and Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, 19, to attend the Olympics.
Puck finished fourth with a time of 1:29:25, losing by just a few minutes to the United States, Sweden and France, who took gold with Ferrand Prevot Pauline.
Watching from the sidelines, Máxima wore a stunning floral dress to complement the generously bright and sunny weather.
Queen Máxima (left) of the Netherlands was pictured looking cheerful and upbeat as she watched the Netherlands team on the second day of the Paris Olympics.
The pair looked very happy as they watched the race. Their runner, Dutchman Pieterse Puck, came in fourth place with a time of 1:29:25.
Dutch royals Queen Máxima (second from right), King Willem-Alexander (second from left) and their two daughters Catherine Amalia (right), Princess of Orange, 20, and Princess Alexia (left) were pictured looking upbeat and cheerful as they watched their country compete in the mountain bike cross country finals at the Paris Olympics.
Queen Máxima met with other fans of the Dutch team during her second day at the Paris Olympics
Máxima smiled as she and Willem-Alexander discussed the race alongside their daughter, Princess Alexia.
The modest multi-coloured floral dress helped keep the queen cool in Paris’ seasonally warm weather.
She paired the look with trendy sunglasses, long sunset-colored earrings and a bright orange cap in the colors of her home team, the Netherlands. She added a pair of trendy sneakers underneath the hem of her airy dress.
Also sporting a Dutch national team sun hat was Máxima’s husband, King Willem-Alexander, who also wore a matching shirt to show his support for his country.
Her youngest daughter, Princess Ariadne, 17, does not appear to have accepted the engagement.
(tags to translate)dailymail