The youngest sister of Queen Máxima of Holland has been found dead in her apartment in Almagro, Buenos Aires, seemingly having after taken her own life.
The death of 33-year-old Inés Zorreguieta from suicide was confirmed by Trudy Hulscher of the Royal House's communications department. She said in an email that no further details were available at the time.
Local investigating prosecutors 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. Reports quoted them as saying the death was "most likely as a result of suicide."
Zorreguieta, 13 years younger than Máxima, 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.
Máxima 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.
Zorreguieta, born in 1984 was a singer and guitarist and had previously suffered from depression, the Dutch NOS public newscaster said. She was admitted to a psychiatric clinic in Buenos Aires in 2012, believed to have been suffering from anorexia and paranoia, NOS added.
Queen Máxima also has two brothers, Martín and Juan, as well as three half-sisters from her father's first marriage.
Máxima has cancelled her public appearances for the following days after news of her sister's death, Dutch news agencies reported.
- AFP/AP
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