General News about the Dutch Royal Family, Part 1 (September 2010 - )

[polyesco]

ugliest city? for a second I thought that was in the official announcement

[Marengo]

I thought a pre-warning may be handy for the non-Dutch members .

Tilburg was voted ugliest cities in a national poll a few years ago IIRC, though I am not sure how scientific the poll was. These last years the city has been doing its best to make it nicer. I am sure they will try to guide the royal family through the better-looking areas of the city.

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by polyesco

ugliest city? for a second I thought that was in the official announcement

Nope, several cities in the NL are called ugly, it just depends on who you're asking

[polyesco]

now Im intrigued and am looking at images of the city online

[Lee-Z]

As of today the dutch royal family has an official instagram page
https://www.instagram.com/koninklijkhuis/

Announcement
Koninklijke familie nu ook op Instagram | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl
google english

(Not sure in which forum this should be posted, mods feel free to move..)

[Marengo]

The RVD released a statement from the King, Queen and former Queen Beatrix about the death of former prime minister Ruud Lubbers:

Ruud Lubbers heeft ons land en de internationale gemeenschap tientallen jaren in vele functies gediend. Als minister-president zette hij zich twaalf jaar lang energiek in voor economisch en sociaal herstel. Latere generaties konden daarop voortbouwen.
Wij gedenken Ruud Lubbers als een groot staatsman met een indrukwekkend verantwoordelijkheidsgevoel. Wij gedenken hem ook als een moedig en invoelend mens. Zijn familie wensen wij kracht toe in deze moeilijke dagen

The remember Lubbers as a great statesman and praise his sense of responsibility, courage and compassion.

Lubbers and Beatrix were said to have enjoyed an excellent working relationship. He was prime minister in a difficult period (the 80-ties) when even Princess Irene was politically active in protesting against the placement of NATO rockets in the Netherlands. Much to the embarrassement of her elder sister.

In 2013 he did make the faux pas of revealing a bit too much. He was invited by Queen Juliana to come to Soestdijk Palace. She told him: 'Mr Lubbers, I have known you for a long time. That is why I want to hear your judgement. I am so worried about my grandson'. She was concerned that the crown prince was not up to the job and lacked 'the right antenna'. The prime minister assured Juliana that he had children that were slightly older than the prince and added: 'there are a lot of possibilities in him. I have all confidence in him'.

In the same interview he revealed that when the crown prince wanted to present Maxima to his mother, he adviced Beatrix to 'finally be nice' to a girlfriend that was introduced to her and to judge later on. The Queen called him afterwards, saying that she had a lot to explain to prince Claus and 'the other boys', as they were surprised by her lack of criticism.

[eya]

The Annual Review Royal House 2017 has been published. In addition to a paper version, an e-magazine has also been made this year!

https://magazines.koninklijkhuis.nl/.../2017/01/index

[eya]

The Dutch Royal Family step in to save the Houis Doorn

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...P=share_btn_tw

[Marengo]

I can't see how the Dutch RF stepped in at all... Princess Beatrix opened two exhibitions, and that is that.


The article is filled with mistakes. Huis Doorn was not bought from the mother of Audrey Hepburn but from Audrey's great-grandmother Baroness Wilhelmina Cornelia van Heemstra, nee Jkvr. de Beaufort, a dowager at the time.

The place certainly is not a ruin -I visited it this spring so I could see that for myself- and is not at risk of becoming one at this point. But obviously the state does not feel it is one of its obligations to maintain this museum at the same level as other state museums. Neither is it visited by a great number of people, which is a pity because it is a fascinating place.

It is run by very dedicated volunteers for the most part.

This part of the article is particulary strange:

She had used her blood ties to persuade Wilhelm not to invade the Netherlands during the war, in which the country remained neutral. Academic research is soon expected to definitively prove what much of the evidence suggests: that the Dutch queen later repaid Wilhelm by letting him cross the border to safety.

In other words: nothing is proven at all. Wilhelmina did not persuade Wilhelm and neither did she allow him to cross the border. She was highly surprised by his arrival at Eysden and later evaded him like the plague.

[Somebody]

Not sure whether this is the best thread but Netty Royal created some nice overviews of the announced engagements in 2018 by the Dutch royals.

[Marengo]

An interesting list & it must have been quite a bit of work. And poor Flevoland: no visit at all from the king or queen in 2018 .

[eya]

Valentine's Day today and the Palace share some older pictures from the Royal Family:

"It's Valentine's Day! ❤️ Especially for today a few family photos from the archive #throwbackthursday. On the first photo from 2010: the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima. The photo of the sisters , Princess Alexia, Princess Ariane and Princess Catharina-Amalia was made in 2008 by their father. On the last photo you see Queen Beatrix with her grandchildren Countess Luana and Countess Zaria in 2006."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt27gu4HOEW/

[muriel]

Originally Posted by eya

Valentine's Day today and the Palace share some older pictures from the Royal Family:

"It's Valentine's Day! ❤️ Especially for today a few family photos from the archive #throwbackthursday. On the first photo from 2010: the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima. The photo of the sisters , Princess Alexia, Princess Ariane and Princess Catharina-Amalia was made in 2008 by their father. On the last photo you see Queen Beatrix with her grandchildren Countess Luana and Countess Zaria in 2006."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt27gu4HOEW/

Lovely old pictures.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Such wonderful photos. I always like old pictures like these as we can see how the royals have transformed over the years.

[eya]

The Royal Family don't miss this year from the carnaval!!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0zz39QX...pg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0zz39MX...jpg&name=large

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Somebody

Not sure whether this is the best thread but Netty Royal created some nice overviews of the announced engagements in 2018 by the Dutch royals.

Interesting how Prince Pieter-Christiaan appears much more active than his siblings and sisters-in-law.

Originally Posted by Marengo

In 2013 he did make the faux pas of revealing a bit too much. He was invited by Queen Juliana to come to Soestdijk Palace. She told him: 'Mr Lubbers, I have known you for a long time. That is why I want to hear your judgement. I am so worried about my grandson'. She was concerned that the crown prince was not up to the job and lacked 'the right antenna'. The prime minister assured Juliana that he had children that were slightly older than the prince and added: 'there are a lot of possibilities in him. I have all confidence in him'.

In the same interview he revealed that when the crown prince wanted to present Maxima to his mother, he adviced Beatrix to 'finally be nice' to a girlfriend that was introduced to her and to judge later on. The Queen called him afterwards, saying that she had a lot to explain to prince Claus and 'the other boys', as they were surprised by her lack of criticism.

Very interesting! The queens must have placed great faith in him to request his advice on private matters.

[iceflower]

.

The annual survey 2018 of the Royal Family has been published online: "It contains, among other things, 100 selected activities by King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Princess Beatrix, and other members of the Royal Family":



** koninklijkhuis.nl: Jaaroverzicht Koninklijk Huis 2018 **

[eya]

Tha Palace wish us Happy Spring with an old picture taken by Prince Claus of little Prince Willem Alexander fifty years ago!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvjJXPinDFY/

Rick Evers‏ @RickEversRoyal
Zo te zien viert koning Willem-Alexander de Paasdagen in het buitenland. De standaard wappert niet op Paleis Huis ten Bosch. Beatrix vierde Pasen altijd in het Italiaanse Tavarnelle.


"It looks like King Willem-Alexander is celebrating Easter over abroad. The standard does not fly at Huis ten Bosch Palace. Beatrix always celebrated Easter in the Italian town of Tavarnelle."


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4cbm9KXkAM5w5H.jpg

[Duc_et_Pair]

The Second Chamber of the States-General (the lower House of Parliament) urges the Government to review the automatism of exchanging Orders during State Visits.

Reason: the Sultan of Brunei has been made a Knight Grand-Cross in the Order of the Netherlands' Lion. In the meantime the Sultan has endorsed Sharia Law in Brunei, which means the chopping of hands, the stoning of gay men and women, the caning of men and women blamed for adultery, etc.

The Second Chamber finds it "utmost undesirable" that the Sultan has a Dutch Order while his policy contradicts everything the Dutch stand for: human rights, individual freedom, tolerance, etc.

The Chancellery of the Netherlands' Orders has answered that it is only possible to revoke an Order when the bearer has been convicted with at minimum one year of imprisonment. So according the current statutes of the various Netherlands' Orders, it is not possible to take action against the Sultan.

Some parties have made an appeal to the King and Princess Beatrix to send their Brunei Orders back to the Sultan. The exchange of Orders during State Visits happens under responsibility of the Cabinet. So it are not the King or Princess Beatrix to decide on this. That is up to the Cabinet. The Second Chamber asks the Cabinet to review the pure automatism of handing out an Order without even reviewing any merit to reveive such.

The three Dutch State Orders (under ministerial responsibility) :
- de Militaire Willems-Orde
- de Orde van de Nederlandsche Leeuw
- de Orde van Oranje-Nassau

The two Dutch royal Orders (to the King's own pleasure) :
- Orde in de Gouden Leeuw van het Huis Nassau
- Huisorde van Oranje

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The Second Chamber of the States-General (the lower House of Parliament) urges the Government to review the automatism of exchanging Orders during State Visits.

Reason: the Sultan of Brunei has been made a Knight Grand-Cross in the Order of the Netherlands' Lion. In the meantime the Sultan has endorsed Sharia Law in Brunei, which means the chopping of hands, the stoning of gay men and women, the caning of men and women blamed for adultery, etc.

The Second Chamber finds it "utmost undesirable" that the Sultan has a Dutch Order while his policy contradicts everything the Dutch stand for: human rights, individual freedom, tolerance, etc.

The Chancellery of the Netherlands' Orders has answered that it is only possible to revoke an Order when the bearer has been convicted with at minimum one year of imprisonment. So according the current statutes of the various Netherlands' Orders, it is not possible to take action against the Sultan.

Some parties have made an appeal to the King and Princess Beatrix to send their Brunei Orders back to the Sultan. The exchange of Orders during State Visits happens under responsibility of the Cabinet. So it are not the King or Princess Beatrix to decide on this. That is up to the Cabinet. The Second Chamber asks the Cabinet to review the pure automatism of handing out an Order without even reviewing any merit to reveive such.

The three Dutch State Orders (under ministerial responsibility) :
- de Militaire Willems-Orde
- de Orde van de Nederlandsche Leeuw
- de Orde van Oranje-Nassau

The two Dutch royal Orders (to the King's own pleasure) :
- Orde in de Gouden Leeuw van het Huis Nassau
- Huisorde van Oranje

Wouldn't ending the automatism of orders worsen the problem? To grant an order on merit would surely be perceived as an endorsement of the bearer, even more than an order automatically gained.