Willem-Alexander, Máxima and Family, General News Part 2 (May 2013 - May 2017)

[Duc_et_Pair]

The main problem was that in a published letter to the editor the three children were criticized for their looks (with hints to Amalia being fat). Luckily a storm of criticism came over the author of the letter. At the same time the Ombudswoman of the newspaper criticized the own editorial staff for publishing such a letter because three defenceless children were exposed to public criticism, even more defenceless because as children of the King they are under ministerial responsibility, meaning that -for an example- a hypothetic lawsuit should be 'covered' by the government. All by all unwanted by-effects. The main point was that not adults in the public eye were criticized but children.

[Lee-Z]

^^^^
particularly because these children did not chose their role in life... if for instance an 11 year old takes part in a talent-show against adults, it would not be fair if they were judged on a different scale than the adult-competitors, but in that case they had made the choice to participate...

[casualfan]

Originally Posted by carlota

what do you mean ashelen? to me this implies that if they weren't white something would be wrong with them / they would deserve to be bashed for their skin colour? really? is such comment necessary? i really don't know what you meant here, but it definitely sounds completely wrong to me.

No, I think the OP was just trying to say that there's nothing to discuss regarding the princesses' skin - ie, how could someone criticize the girls for being 'colorless,' when they're just normal (white) girls? I think there's just a language barrier here.

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by casualfan

No, I think the OP was just trying to say that there's nothing to discuss regarding the princesses' skin - ie, how could someone criticize the girls for being 'colorless,' when they're just normal (white) girls? I think there's just a language barrier here.

Thanks for explaining, I would have never thought of "white" being a synonym of "normal"... this must be a cultural difference

[carlota]

thanks for the explanation. maybe indeed that was what was meant. i am myself a white european, and found it slightly on the wrong side, but if i had been of another race i would have found that comment rather insulting.

[casualfan]

Originally Posted by Lee-Z

Thanks for explaining, I would have never thought of "white" being a synonym of "normal"... this must be a cultural difference

I struggled with how to phrase my response so apologize for awkward phrasing. but I think the point was 'how are you going to say that the girls are 'colorless,' when they are not people of color?' Also, I think OP was just pointing out how ridiculous it all was.

[ashelen]

Originally Posted by casualfan

No, I think the OP was just trying to say that there's nothing to discuss regarding the princesses' skin - ie, how could someone criticize the girls for being 'colorless,' when they're just normal (white) girls? I think there's just a language barrier here.

Thank you! it is nothing to discuss about their colour of their skin, they are just normal white girls , and if they were different colour it is nothing to discuss either doesn't matter what colour of skin they are or what dress are using nor if they are chubby girls, they are just kids that they should to enjoy their childhood and not to be cast in any type of negativity environment. Can you imagine not only school but they are having access to computer, could you imagine if Amalia reads anything negative about her in the computer?, as a mother I would be furious, leave my kids alone!
I just read that the word they used it is "clourless" for me that would mean that they look sick! and they have a very healthy look! nothing to say!
The kids they should to enjoy kingsday not to be scare of it oh "what the press would say this year about me, mommy ?" " I don't want to go" well hope her parents do what ever the need to protect them and bring up Amalia a great future Queen of the Neatherlands!

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Lee-Z

The comment was not made by "the media" as such but in a section where the general public can express their opinion; where should the media draw the line in chosing which comments to publish or not...isn't this all part of "freedom of speech"?
On these forums "freedom of speech" is often used as an excuse in saying all kinds of things about people, this is no different from an opinion sent in by a reader of a newspaper.

Imo Freedom of speech is a great prerogative, but it shouldn't mean that anyone should say whatever they want at whatever time and place they want, there is also such a thing as common decency, which a lot of people tend to forget nowadays.

The letter-writer who didn't like the look of the princesses cloths was rebuffed later by other letter-writers; isn't that exactly how it should work?

I alway cringe when people talk about freedom of speech because, other than the US, I don't think that it is enshrined in any other constitutions. Regardless, freedom of speech is not a licence to bully but, in printing that particular letter alongside a photo of the children in the "offending" clothes, it seems that particular newspaper has declared open season on the royal children. It is utterly irrelevant that the majority of replies to that letter rebuked the author of the letter and it's contents. It does not rewind history, nor does it remove the the ammunition it gave to those that would bully the princesses. What it does do is make the Crown Princess and her sisters the poster children for Bullying.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are perfect examples of media without conscience as they loosed a continual stream of nastyand even vicious articles about them from the time they hit their teens. Nothing was off limits, not their family, their clothing or, worst of all, their respective weights. That they grew into the happy, well-adjusted young women that they are is a tribute to their parents hard work. Those girls grew up before people were educated that Bullying was not a Rite of Passage but a harmful and damaging practice that has devastating consequences and is, in many places, legislated against.

I hope the Dutch royals slap the newspaper with legal action and nip this in the bud.

[Lee-Z]

^^^^^^^ i agree that freedom of speech should not be used as an excuse to bully someone, but let's look at ourselves here on these forums; it happens here too...and if the children are old enough to read newspapers they are also old enough to read what is said on the internet..

By the way, imo, the dutch media would also have gotten a lot of critique had they called them "normal white girls" (just for a different reason)... :-)

[Elenath]

Originally Posted by MARG

I alway cringe when people talk about freedom of speech because, other than the US, I don't think that it is enshrined in any other constitutions. Regardless, freedom of speech is not a licence to bully but, in printing that particular letter alongside a photo of the children in the "offending" clothes, it seems that particular newspaper has declared open season on the royal children. It is utterly irrelevant that the majority of replies to that letter rebuked the author of the letter and it's contents. It does not rewind history, nor does it remove the the ammunition it gave to those that would bully the princesses. What it does do is make the Crown Princess and her sisters the poster children for Bullying.

Actually it is. It is mentioned in the European convention on Human Rights (art. 10 to be precise), which is binding for all European countries, and the Dutch constitution protects the right the press has in printing/publishing whatever they want as long as it doesn’t break the law (art. 7). The question isn’t wether it’s legal, the question is wether it’s ethical. Wether children deserve more protection from letters like these than adults.

[Duc_et_Pair]

There is a form of segregation in the Netherlands as well. Due to immense amounts of immigration, especially in the big cities the population has changed drastically. When you take the metro from the suburbs in Amsterdam South-East to the city centre, fat chance that the average caucasian Dutchman from the countryside will look around with bewilderment to see that all other passengers in the metro have all ethnic backgrounds from the world and that he is far in the minority.

The 'hidden' segregation happens unintendedly, and it is official policy to fight and prevent it. "Newcomers" are usually less wealthy and live in cheaper neighbourhoods. Result is that also the local schools become crowded by children with a background from Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Armenia, Egypt, whatever. They drag down the average score of the whole school, simply because they are poor in Dutch, are practically illiterate or did not enjoy any primary schooling at all. The side-effect: "white parents" take their children away because, understandably, they want the best education. Some schools in some neighbourhoods in big cities face a "white exodus": the wealthier parents prefer to bring their kids in a daily ride to a "white school" furtherer away than to the own local school in the own neighbourhood.

The three princesses live in Wassenaar. The Royal Domain 'De Horsten' is already almost 175 years in the possession of the royal family. Now Wassenaar is one of the most 'posh' residential areas in the Netherlands. It is known for broad, lush green streets with big residential or stately homes and villas, a typical sleepy posh area, where girls go horseriding, wearing Burberry shawls and boys are on field hockey and the daddies all ride Land Rover, you know what I mean.

So with portraying of the three princesses as three "white girls" it is not directly meaning their skintone but more typecasting them as "those typical girls from that sort of people". (And yes.... the triple A's do horseriding, and yes.... the triple A's do play field hockey....). There is an enormous difference with the countryside in Friesland, or Limbourg and cities as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht. It sometimes look and feel as worlds apart, in the very same country. On King's Day the royal family went to De Rijp, a typical Ye Olde Dutch village with happy white Dutch girls and boys singing for their King. Afterwards they went to Amstelveen, a big city close to Schiphol International Airport and it has the largest number of Ex-Pats living in the city. All people from abroad to work for multinationals and sending their children to international schools (bilingual edication). The festive atmosphere, the fun was the same, but there was an enormous difference between the village which was visited in the morning and then the city around Noon.

[Marengo]

The public news channel has an article critisizing the flamboyance of Máxima.
Weblog Evenementen » Blog Archief » Koningin Máxima steelt de show

The article states that it isn't bad that she receives more attention than him per se. But that it is starting to become disproportionate and that he slowly gets completely overshadowed by his wife. There is a danger that mutual public engagements become a 'Maxima-show'. Most attention is generated by her clothes.

Courtesy: Sander at ATR.

[Jacknch]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The public news channel has an article critisizing the flamboyance of Máxima.
Weblog Evenementen » Blog Archief » Koningin Máxima steelt de show

The article states that it isn't bad that she receives more attention than him per se. But that it is starting to become disproportionate and that he slowly gets completely overshadowed by his wife. There is a danger that mutual public engagements become a 'Maxima-show'. Most attention is generated by her clothes.

Courtesy: Sander at ATR.

Perhaps the public news channel should therefor focus it's reports on the King rather than the Queen! It is all very well the media saying Maxima is too flamboyant or her clothes generate more attention, but they are the media, they report it, their journalists have the power to focus attention upon whomever they like. Here in the UK, the problem is exactly the same....only today I read an article about the Spanish royal family and the wording was "Princess Letizia, soon to be queen of Spain and her husband Felipe who will be king".
I find myself having to explain to people that Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is the consort! Maybe people are not used to seeing a Dutch king!

[iceflower]

.

Willem-Alexander, Máxima and the girls watched the Field Hockey World Cup men's match between Australia and the Netherlands in Den Haag yesterday, June 15. Australia won the match.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **


** rp-online.de gallery ** anp gallery **


** rtlnieuws.nl gallery: FOTO'S: Prinsesjes bij finale WK hockey **


** omroepwest.nl video: Ze zijn er! Willem-Alexander, Maxima en dochters bij WK-finale heren **

[MARG]

Ah, the family that plays together, stays together. And judging by the photos there were some very tense and very exciting moments. What a terrific boost for the team to have the entire royal family there to cheer them on.

Just as an aside, the photo of King Willem-Alexander formally escorting his Queen at the wedding was amazing. He looked every inch a King, so if the media cared to train their cameras on the "Couple" they would see the pride of the Netherlands!

[Marengo]

The boost didn't help much, the Dutch men lost the finals. The day earlier the Dutch ladies also played against Australia in the finals, but they won.

All three princesses play field hockey btw, just like most children of well-to-do parents in The Netherlands.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The boost didn't help much, the Dutch men lost the finals. The day earlier the Dutch ladies also played against Australia in the finals, but they won.

All three princesses play field hockey btw, just like most children of well-to-do parents in The Netherlands.

Isn't the Royal Couple going to Brazil to root for the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup ? The Dutch team is very strong as shown by their overwhelming win in the opening game against Spain.

[EmmaNL]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Isn't the Royal Couple going to Brazil to root for the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup ? The Dutch team is very strong as shown by their overwhelming win in the opening game against Spain.

Yes, they are attending the match between Australia and the Netherlands on wednesday in Porto Alegre.. It is three times Australia-Netherlands this week: 2x hockey, 1x football.

[ashelen]

I was just thinking what maxima thought in 1977, about Argentina n the Netherlands game she was very little May be 7 or 8 , who would say one day she would be the queen of the Netherlands! I'm sure nit in her wildest dream thought about it! now she is very Dutch but still she must have some heart for Argentina! Hope they do not have to play against each other !!!!

[EmmaNL]

A journalist actually asked how she was thinking about sport matches between Argentina and the Netherlands. It occured at least once that the Dutch hockey team (I think the ladies, they're the best) had to play against Argentina while the King and Queen (they were still Prince and Princess at that moment) were present (at the Olympics). Queen Máxima was supporting the Dutch, very enthusiasticly. She also told the press that she is 100% for the Netherlands, of course, she should be. She always seems very enthusiastic when supporting th Dutch, so I suppose she really wants to support them..