There is a barrage of articles, columns, radio discussions etc. dedicated to the issue. Some are wondering if the Crown Prince spoke to Máxima the Dutch queen, or Máxima the UN envoy. The Dutch government claims the latter.
The defence of the Prime Minister is that Máxima did not represent the Netherlands but was there as a UN special envoy. The explanation is of course nonsense, as Máxima is queen 24 hours of the day and almost no normal UN envoys will be invited to a G20, let alone have meetings on the highest level. Being Queen gives her access to such a network of people, which she uses to maximise the attention for the noble cause of micro finance. Note that according to the Saudi's the meeting was about the 'cooperation of the two Kingdoms'.
The Dutch government is responsible for what the Queen says and does 24 hours of the day. There is no time-sharing arrangement with the United Nations where on certain hours of the day secretary Guterres is responsible for what his special envoy says and does. Being king or queen is not a part-time job. Well-intentioned external projects should not damage the monarchy.
Political journalists seem to agree that the meeting was a massive blunder - even the right-wing Telegraaf explicitly names it such. F.e. Frits Wester is questioning why neither the RVD nor the civil service have prevented this meeting but also wonders what has happened to the political antenna of the royal family. The NOS (state broadcaster) also concludes that the political antenna of the RF seems not to be adjusted well. Others wonder if the responsible ministers were sleeping when this meeting was set up. Bas Heijne claims that the Saudi Crown Prince uses 'bling bling feminists' like Máxima to make his regime more palatable to the West, while these women play along in his game.
It is the second time the political climate was severely misjudged by Máxima. The first time was when she made her remarks about the Dutch Identity. PM Lubbers claimed later that that blunder showed that Máxima 'was not ready' and needed a few more years to prepare for her function as Queen.
There was some criticism when Máxima 'accidentally' posed for a photo with the wife of president Bouterse of Suriname at a UN-meeting a few years ago. The Netherlands has a rather difficult relationship with the president of the former colony, who is responsible for the
December murders of 1982. That this official meeting with the killer crown prince would create a barrage criticism could have been foreseen.
I understand that cutting ribbons day in day out can be frustrating. And I understand that it is good for the Queen and other members of the RF to have something meaningful to do. Some freedom should be given to these members of the family. But it can not be the case that an external role will damage the functioning of the monarchy. It is clear that the monarchy is held to a higher standard than ordinary politicians, diplomats etc. That is why I doubt that f.e. the IOC-function will ever be repeated for Amalia (it became too sensitive with all the corruption that is going on). Clearly arranging this public meeting was a lack of good judgement. The Queen's external function should not put her in the middle of a political mine field.
BTW I do not think for one minute that this will change the popularity of the Queen for one iota. She has enough credit with most of the population to be forgiven a blunder. The prime minister and minister Blok should have known better. At least they are defending the queen 100%, which is good as this incident is their responsibility first and foremost.
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