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I'm shocked, well i guess there does come to a point when they don't want to talk and be by themselves. But still, its not private, its a state visit and when tax payers are paying for the trip, they have every right to know if they are enjoying their stay- oh well, in the princes defense, he is human, it happens to anyone.
Couldn't agree more with your entire post, Australian.
On the one hand, I can completely sympathize with Willem Alexander: those pesky reporters don't want to give an inch of space. And he's only human, that is very true.
On the other hand though, he needs to start realizing that,
1) he <is> on a trip representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and these kinds of reactions don't reflect well if you consider the goal of this trip: promoting the Netherlands overseas.
2)He needs to also start being less unpredictable when it comes to handling the press: now he's all smiles and cooperative: at another moment he's snappy, short and unfriendly.
3)He needs to take a page from his mother. Let's admit it, this kind of reaction wouldn't have happened to <her>, the ultra-professional.
4) True, he was enjoying a private few days, granted. BUT, first of all, the local bystanders didn't necessarily realize this.
5)Also, I have worked for a couple of multinationals and traveled a lot <for> work, on the employer's dime. But on NO occasion was it ok for me to, after a gruelling business trip that would take me to many countries in as many days, on no occasion was it allowed to glue a vacation onto that trip <AT THE EXPENSE OF THE EMPLOYER>. Alexander is doing that, though: he is enjoying these three private vacation days on the dime of the Netherlands, his de facto employer. Where in the corporate, or otherwise NORMAL working world do we workers have this privilege? And if he thinks this is normal, to get a vacation paid for by the Dutch tax payer, then he should ALSO have the courtesy to AT LEAST be courtous to his hosts there, the local New Zealanders, some of whom were waiting outside of this hotel and were exposed to his snappyness, to the point where they shouted at his departing car: "Please don't come back". Well, is this what Alex had in mind to achieve when he went on this trip to strenghten relationships overseas? Didn't think so either.
And sure, I don't begrudge the P of Orange his privacy & not bothered by accompanied reporters: but at home, at the Horsten, you can't be snappy to locals while on a trip paid for by the Netherlands TO PROMOTE the Netherlands. That is just unprofessional and while I totally understand it from a human perspective, it is not acceptable I think in the context of what he is trying to achieve with this trip.
I guess I should have known better: I aplauded this prince all along the way of this trip, giving him the benefit of some doubts I still have about him because of his attitude sometimes.
And this proves to me he's not ready for the throne, after all.
Sure, what he did may be human, but again, folks, this wouldn't have happened to Beatrix. This wouldn't have happened to Elizabeth of England. This wouldn't have come out of the mouth of Harald of Norway. Or King Juan Carlos and Sophia.
All professional monarchs who, when on duty, understand what that means. Your on a trip promoting your country? You are on duty 24/7, so that means, no snappy remarks at people. If this is so hard for you, Alex, then you are either not ready for the throne or you may well never be ready. This is one of those instances that tell me his mother would be wise staying on for quite some time to come. I'm disappointed, folks. Very disappointed. But not surprised.
Same here, 
