She returned to work this week following the tragic apparent suicide of her younger sister earlier this month.

But despite being determined to get back to business, grieving Queen Maxima of the Netherlands appeared emotional at points during an engagement at The Hague on Thursday.

She was marking the 10th anniversary of the Wijzer in Geldzaken, an initiative that provides financial education for young people, just two days after breaking her silence over the loss of her 'sweet and talented' sister Inés Zorreguieta, who was found hanged in her apartment in Argentina earlier this month aged 33.

Queen Maxima, who flew to her native Argentina to attend the funeral, thanked wellwishers for their messages of support in a brief statement during a visit to a proton therapy centre on Monday, and told the gathered crowd it had been 'a very dark period'.

Queen Maxima did not address her loss again on Thursday, but appeared emotional at points

Maxima's younger sister Ines Zorreguieta, seen with their late father Jorge Zorreguieta in 2016, was found hanged in her apartment in Buenos Aires earlier this month

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 47, looked stunning in a purple lace dress on Thursday

She was attending the 10th anniversary event of the Wijzer in Geldzaken in The Hague

She said on Tuesday that her sister was ill and 'unable to find happiness', and that the family's 'only consolation' was the knowledge that Ines had finally found peace.

Today the Dutch Queen waved to well-wishers who had gathered to greet her outside the event.

She teamed her purple dress with nude court shoes

The dress was cut just above the knee and was worn with a matching purple belt that cinched in Maxima's waist.

She added a glamorous touch to her daytime look with a pair of statement purple earrings and a large costume ring on her right hand.

Maxima gave a speech at the event for the organisation, which provides financial education for young people

The royal appeared to catch a chill at some point and covered up with a large grey shawl around her shoulders

She looked determined to carry on as normal in her first week back to work following the death of her sister

Maxima carried an eye-catching silver clutch bag and decorated her wrists with a stack of silver bangles.

At the event Maxima appeared on stage and gave a speech about the company's work with young people.

She said in a speech to guests: 'Every person deserves a future without fear and stress. Every person deserves opportunities to move forward in life.

'And for that it is necessary that every person has financial skills. Those who can handle money responsibly have more control over their own future,' the Queen added.

Maxima's stunning dress had a nude slip underneath and delicate lace detailing from top to bottom

She donned a pair of statement purple earrings and a large costume ring for the occasion

The outfit was worn with a matching purple belt that cinched in Maxima's trim waist

Maxima wore her blonde hair loose around her shoulders as she attended the daytime event

Yesterday she opened up about sister Inés Zorreguieta's death, saying she had 'finally found peace' in death (she is pictured today)

Queen Maxima had previously cancelled all upcoming engagements and flown to Argentina to be with her family

QUEEN MAXIMA'S SPEECH AT MONEY MATTERS The Dutch Queen congratulated the finance initiative on 10 years of work to educate young people about money matters in a speech, but added that its work is 'not finished yet!' She said: 'We all share one conviction. Every person deserves a future without fear and stress. Every person deserves opportunities to move forward in life. 'And for that it is necessary that every person has financial skills. Those who can handle money responsibly have more control over their own future. 'Everything that Wijzer does in money matters is therefore about people and their happiness in life.' Advertisement

At the proton therapy centre on Tuesday the Queen, who is back on duty just a fortnight after attending her 33-year-old sister's funeral in their native Argentina, said she was pleased to visit a centre that works to help cancer patients who are 'ill, but who haven't lost hope to recover'.

'My sweet and talented younger sister Ines was also ill. She was unable to find happiness and sadly couldn't get better,' said Maxima.

She added: 'Our only consolation is to think that she has finally found peace.'

Inés Zorreguieta, 33, was found dead at her apartment in Buenos Aires, according to the Dutch Embassy in Argentina, who told La Nacion that authorities 'assume it was a case of suicide.'

She is understood to have suffered from depression and mental health issues. .

Maxima's beloved sister was a psychologist who worked for an office on social policies at the president's office.

Inés was also godmother to Queen Maxima's 11-year-old daughter Princess Ariane.

Queen Maxima had previously cancelled all upcoming engagements and flown to Argentina to be with her family.