Queen 'backed' Edwin probe
7 March 2003
AMSTERDAM — Queen Beatrix agreed to a secret service investigation into Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn, the fiancé of her goddaughter Princess Margarita, "well-informed" sources have told the media.
The director of the Queen's Cabinet, Felix Rhodius, suggested the idea of an enquiry in 2000 because De Roy van Zuydewijn was to become a member of the royal family, newspaper De Volkskrant said on Friday.
The newspaper report is the latest in a series of damaging revelations to emerge in "Margarita-gate" — a royal scandal involving allegations of a smear campaign, taped conversations, leaked files, law suits and inter-family squabbling.
Princess Margarita and Edwin are said to be ready to sue the royal family for EUR 35 million for blacking Edwin's name and the state prosecutor has been called in to see if Princess Margarita should be prosecuted for insulting the Queen. The princess could face five years in jail if found guilty.
On Thursday, it also emerged that Home Affairs Minister Johan Remkes and Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner have written to the couple to apologise for previous denials by their departments that the national security service AIVD had studied Edwin's confidential social welfare file.
The apology came after Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende confirmed that the security service, then known as the BVD, had examined the file as part of a routine check into Edwin's background.
Edwin is a businessman who describes himself as a baron. Critics say that he bought the title.
The ministers said that their predecessors had denied the investigation had taken place because they had not been informed about the probe. The letter said the security service is not obliged to ask for ministerial permission to run a background check.
In an interview with RTL Nieuws on Thursday, Balkenende explained that the AIVD is free to investigate people when it feels there is a need in the "interest of the State".
Both Remkes and Donner have stressed that the security services acted within the law. Labour leader Wouter Bos however, said: "In the future, these things should be handled differently."
Balkenende promised to send a letter to Parliament next week in which he will put all the facts together "carefully and coherently". Parliament is due to have an emergency debate about the situation next week.
The troubled couple’s lawyer said on Thursday that the ministers had apologised for the mess at the ministries, but not for the grief his clients had suffered.
Meanwhile, the royal family is officially keeping quiet. Queen Beatrix was greeted with a warm applause on Thursday during her first public appearance since the affair broke, newspaper De Telegraaf reported.
Article From: Expatica.com