Dutch queen to attend sister's funeral

The Netherlands' Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander will travel to Buenos Aires for the funeral of the queen's younger sister, the royal palace in The Hague says.

Only the closest family members will attend the funeral for Ines Zorreguieta, which will take place on Saturday or Sunday, according to the Dutch broadcaster NOS.

Zorreguieta died late on Wednesday at age 33, a palace spokeswoman announced earlier. The spokeswoman said the death was a "suspected suicide".

Zorreguieta's body was found in her flat in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian news agency Telam reported.

A prosecutor was tasked with investigating the circumstances of her death, according to Telam.

Queen Maxima, 47, is "deeply shocked", NOS quoted a palace spokesman as saying.

Maxima has cancelled all her scheduled appearances until the end of next week, including visits to Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, a palace statement said. Willem-Alexander is due to be back from the funeral in time to make the appearances alone.

In a message of condolence, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte described the news as "a big shock".

Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said that for Maxima "it is a great sorrow to lose a sister, especially a very beloved sister".

The government was willing to help organise Maxima's visit to Argentina for the funeral, the minister added.

Maxima and Ines Zorreguieta were born into the family of Jorge Zorreguieta, who held a ministerial post during Argentina's 1976-83 military dictatorship.

Ines was a bridesmaid at Maxima and Willem-Alexander's wedding in 2002. She was also godmother to the couple's third child, Ariana.

Jorge Zorreguieta was not invited to the wedding because of his involvement with the dictatorship.

Ines Zorreguieta's death came nearly 10 months after that of her father, who passed away at at age 89.

NOS reported that Ines had been receiving treatment for psychiatric problems.

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