Lech Photo Session; February 16th, 2009

[Princess Robijn]

A photoshoot will take place in Lech, February 16, 2009.

Present will be HM the Queen, TRH the Prince and Princess of Orange, their children, HRH Princess Amalia, HRH Princess Alexia and HRH Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, TRH Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands and their children, HE Countess Eloise, HE Count Claus-Casimir and HE Countess Eleonore of Orange-Nassau.

[Marengo]

During last photoshoots there was usually time for the press to ask questions to WA and Maxima. The questions were always friendly and nice AFAIK but this time the RVD announced that it will not be allowed to ask questions to the RF. Note that HM never was interviewed like this.

[Kelly]

Why is this?

[randomlyKeira]

Is there a special occasion that has inspired the photoshoot?

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Why is this?

No idea; but it was a fairly new concept that the press could ask questions after such a photoshoot. It never happened with HM the Queen AFAIK, only a few times last years with WA and Maxima. Perhaps the couple feels uncomfortable in giving too much information about their children, since that is what the journalists will ask about? Or perhaps it is time for a more formal and royal approach, as the Queen has.

Originally Posted by RandomlyKeira

Is there a special occasion that has inspired the photoshoot?

They have a photoshoot each year when they go on winter holidays, the idea is that they give the press some pictures here and the press will leave them alone for the rest of the week.

[ashelen]

didn't Maximacomment last year becasue Amailia is in scgool now they will not be comming yhis 2009?

[Marengo]

They will be going on winterholidays but just i the school holidays, as Amalia has to go to school. Last year they went on vacation when it wasn't a school holiday.

[sgl]

How did the press Q and A session go after the last photoshoot? Were they asking sensitive or difficult questions? Perhaps they didn't want to deal with the media this time.

[carlota]

didn't those horrible paedophils have the new pictures of amalia on their equally horrible website? i'm sure they want to avoid any comments on that. it mustn't be easy for a parent. since it's quite recent and the netherlands is quite a liberal place, they would probably ask that and it would be inappropriate.

[rubies]

I really can't blame the RF, its gotta get on your nerves to go on vacation and have press asking questions about your life. I love the pictures and enjoy this site so much, but I would think it would be a real pain after a while. Especially since they do so many appearances anyway.

[lucien]

The RF arrived in Lech,Austria for their annual ski holiday.A photo shoot is scheduled for early next week,and yes,all
the grandchildren are along.HM,Alexander & Máxima and Constantijn & Laurentien and all the children will participate
in the "photo event".

Something to look forward too I'd say.

[Katrianna]

I always look forward to the pictures from Lech. It's enough that the media gets a photo session and then leave, Royal families are entitled to their privacy on their vacations.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Marengo

They will be going on winterholidays but just i the school holidays, as Amalia has to go to school. Last year they went on vacation when it wasn't a school holiday.

Considering that Princess Alexia will be starting school in the near future, it will be best that the girls are not missing school.

Is this considered a mid-winter break in the Dutch school calendar? Some of the school districts in California will allow for a week off during this time for "ski-weeks."

[Marengo]

I believe they call it the crocus-holiday, it usually is half february, though there are 3 different dates for it as the north, middle and south of the country have their holidays in (apart from the christmas holiday) different weeks. Apart from the Crocus holiday they usually have the tulip holiday (2 weeks , usually the beginning of May), the summer holiday (6 weeks), autumn holiday (1 week half october) and christmas holiday (last week of december/first week of january). These are official holidays, so everybody is free. If you want to have extra days of holidays that is VERY dificult to arrange with the school inspection. They even have checks at the airport a day before a holiday starts and fine people who took their child a day before the official holiday starts.

[sgl]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I believe they call it the crocus-holiday, it usually is half february, though there are 3 different dates for it as the north, middle and south of the country have their holidays in (apart from the christmas holiday) different weeks. Apart from the Crocus holiday they usually have the tulip holiday (2 weeks , usually the beginning of May), the summer holiday (6 weeks), autumn holiday (1 week half october) and christmas holiday (last week of december/first week of january). These are official holidays, so everybody is free. If you want to have extra days of holidays that is VERY dificult to arrange with the school inspection. They even have checks at the airport a day before a holiday starts and fine people who took their child a day before the official holiday starts.

Wow! That is very interesting that they give fines to families who take their children out of school before the holidays. I have taught in the elementary levels before, and I always became quite frustrated with parents who took their children out of school unnecessarily. Is this a school holiday for Amalia? I'm sure that the RF isn't going to break the rules; after all, they seem like they try to set an example for others to follow. Since this seems to be a tradition, then are the children excused in the event that this isn't a holiday?

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by lucien

The RF arrived in Lech,Austria for their annual ski holiday.A photo shoot is scheduled for early next week,and yes,all
the grandchildren are along.HM,Alexander & Máxima and Constantijn & Laurentien and all the children will participate
in the "photo event".

Something to look forward too I'd say.

Also Friso and Mabel and their children ??

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by sgl

Wow! That is very interesting that they give fines to families who take their children out of school before the holidays. I have taught in the elementary levels before, and I always became quite frustrated with parents who took their children out of school unnecessarily. Is this a school holiday for Amalia? I'm sure that the RF isn't going to break the rules; after all, they seem like they try to set an example for others to follow. Since this seems to be a tradition, then are the children excused in the event that this isn't a holiday?

It is a school holiday for Amalia, according to the website of her school: Vakantierooster

---
To Stefan:

It hasn't been announced that Friso and family will be there. They weren't at the photoshoot last year and I have no idea if they visit Lech that week either, I don't think they did so last year.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Marengo

It is a school holiday for Amalia, according to the website of her school: Vakantierooster

---
To Stefan:

It hasn't been announced that Friso and family will be there. They weren't at the photoshoot last year and I have no idea if they visit Lech that week either, I don't think they did so last year.

I wondered only because Lucien said all grandchildren.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by sgl

Wow! That is very interesting that they give fines to families who take their children out of school before the holidays. I have taught in the elementary levels before, and I always became quite frustrated with parents who took their children out of school unnecessarily. Is this a school holiday for Amalia? I'm sure that the RF isn't going to break the rules; after all, they seem like they try to set an example for others to follow. Since this seems to be a tradition, then are the children excused in the event that this isn't a holiday?

They could take Amalia last year as she wasn't yet 5 years old till last december 7th.After the age of 5 one needs special permission to take your kid from school for whatever purpose.

The north and middle have their Crocus holiday from last friday till the 22nd,the south from the 21st till the 2nd of march as in the south Carnaval will be celebrated next weekend starting thursday...

All kids in the country will have their may holidays from april 25th till the 6th of may

Schoolvakanties 2009

http://gpdhome.typepad.com/royalblog...sort-lech.html

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Also Friso and Mabel and their children ??

No,I mentioned the families,so no Friso & Family Stefan.

Great weather and plenty of snow in Lech this year:

http://www.royalblog.nl/

courtesy hja.