Caribbean Visit of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima & Pss of Orange, Feb/Mar 2023

[Toledo]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The minister, Alexandra van Huffelen stood out up to the point that the reporter of AD and of the blog modekoninginmaxima decided to make a special post about her outfits:

https://www.modekoninginmaxima.nl/di...arribean-tour/

Her outfits are both weather and age appropriate, except for the black fishnet stockings moment everything blends in with the local relaxed and tropical feel of the visit. And I like her 'orthopedic' shoes, she knows there's a lot of walking and standing up involved and they seem so comfortable too.

[Skippy]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

How can she be labelled "sheltered" enrolling University as a "normal student" in her own capital and living in the very centre of Amsterdam, alongside one of the main canals?

Now she is extremely sheltered indeed because of direct threats to her life by a proven no-any-holds-barred ruthless criminal mob who was (is) responsible for dozens of liquidations and "disparitions" in the own mob and beyond (amongst them a police officer, a lawyer, a journalist, a crime fighter, a key witness, etc.).

You know very well what is meant with "sheltered", Duc_et_Pair. It is about her royal life as Princess of Orange, not her private life as a UvA student. Her studying and what is supposed to go with that has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Lee-Z

https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/agenda...eel-koninkrijk

the website of the 'koninklijk huis' explicitly says
"Het bezoek staat in het teken van de kennismaking van de Prinses van Oranje met het Caribisch deel van het Koninkrijk"
(The visit is dedicated to the introduction of the Princess of Orange to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom)

So it's not surprise that forummembers and media treat it as such

Thank you, Lee-Z.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Oh yes, of course, how stupid of me, all royal heirs are sooooooo open, and so babbly, and so easygoing, and so approachable for anyone but not Catharina-Amalia, oh yes, how could I not have known that about my own future Nun-Queen, that she is sooo "sheltered" in comparison with Leonor, Ingrid Alexandra and all those absolutely free-as-a-bird princesses. Pffff.

[Adda]

Love this recap of Máxima's choreos in the Caribbean Tour. She can be a bit too much, but she can also deliver. W-A wasn't too far behind, he's shy, but he's also a very jolly person.
They have to invite Carl-Gustav to a dance off!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CokSn...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[SLV]

Originally Posted by Adda

Love this recap of Máxima's choreos in the Caribbean Tour. She can be a bit too much, but she can also deliver. W-A wasn't too far behind, he's shy, but he's also a very jolly person.
They have to invite Carl-Gustav to a dance off!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CokSn...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

What can I say. Dancing is in her blood.
I am sure WA appreciates his wifes moves.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I disagree with this. Leonor of Spain who is even younger than Amalia has had quite the public exposure. In addition she has been making speeches in multiple languages for a few years now.

I doubt that Leonor would have been any different on such a tour. It's one thing to make a speech here and there or go on such a visit with the parents.
Furthermore, Leonors responsibilities will only start on her 18th birthday in October, so for now she has not yet experienced the seriousness that Amalia already has on her shoulders for some time. I am sure it will show.

[lula]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Furthermore, Leonors responsibilities will only start on her 18th birthday in October, so for now she has not yet experienced the seriousness that Amalia already has on her shoulders for some time. I am sure it will show.

Each Royal House works in its own way, but reducing Leonor's role to having given a few speeches does not represent reality.

Leonor's responsibilities began the moment her father became king, attending the National Day, the opening of Parliament or the acts of State in memory of the victims of Covid. In addition to delivering awards from her foundations and making speeches in theaters with hundreds of people that are televised nationally. She has also had three solo events and another three with just her sister.

When she turns 18 her schedule and responsibilities will increase... and it is these small acts alone or with her sister that will have been preparing her for solo trips. Because in Spain there is no custom for the heir of legal age to travel with parents.

[Duke of Marmalade]

I meant it in the sense that Amalia already lost a certain carefree feeling that Leonor still might have, away in Wales and relatively sheltered from public view. That will change when she's 18 and assuming full responsibility.
Leonor is certainly very well prepared but in my opionion her majority will have some impact on her conduct, something that Amalia has already experienced.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I meant it in the sense that Amalia already lost a certain carefree feeling that Leonor still might have, away in Wales and relatively sheltered from public view. That will change when she's 18 and assuming full responsibility.
Leonor is certainly very well prepared but in my opionion her majority will have some impact on her conduct, something that Amalia has already experienced.

Comparing apples and pears.Leave to the spanish RF ,we have enough problems here with this idiotic not yet solved situation surrounding Catharina Amalia.There should be a clamp down of sorts,as I think they already know who is behind all this.Not difficult to guess either.A broom is needed to give it a thorough clean up for once and for all.

[valeas]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Oh yes, of course, how stupid of me, all royal heirs are sooooooo open, and so babbly, and so easygoing, and so approachable for anyone but not Catharina-Amalia, oh yes, how could I not have known that about my own future Nun-Queen, that she is sooo "sheltered" in comparison with Leonor, Ingrid Alexandra and all those absolutely free-as-a-bird princesses. Pffff.

On the one hand you insist that Amalia was not sheltered as some posters write on the other hand you deny to accept that if Amalia was all that prepared by NOT being sheltered she is expected to do much better, look less uncomfortable, less hiding like a shy toddler, showing more self- confidence and being expected is no ranking to others but would be natural behaviour IF a person had had the experience. Plus she has had counselling for years, so whats really wrong with her, she is not he first in both families facing mental challenges.

Obviously something went wrong, she is not well prepared, or still too shy or ???
I am not her judge and for me it is f.e. not unthinkable that she simply would prefer s.th. else for her future, 2023, an intelligent young girl, rich parents, BUT
constantly being criticised in the media ... for playing a powerless role in a constitutional monarchy in a small country facing climate change worth it?
IMO a clear NO.

I, like many others, wish her well.

Royals are humans and make mistakes, too. Maybe Amalia will one day appreciate the way her father prepared her, maybe not-only she can know.
We can only have opinions about it, like we can only have opinions about our neighbours' families.
And after all, we all face daily life's challenges so don't take it too serious.
FeelU

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by valeas

On the one hand you insist that Amalia was not sheltered as some posters write on the other hand you deny to accept that if Amalia was all that prepared by NOT being sheltered she is expected to do much better, look less uncomfortable, less hiding like a shy toddler, showing more self- confidence and being expected is no ranking to others but would be natural behaviour IF a person had had the experience. Plus she has had counselling for years, so whats really wrong with her, she is not he first in both families facing mental challenges.

Obviously something went wrong, she is not well prepared, or still too shy or ???
I am not her judge and for me it is f.e. not unthinkable that she simply would prefer s.th. else for her future, 2023, an intelligent young girl, rich parents, BUT
constantly being criticised in the media ... for playing a powerless role in a constitutional monarchy in a small country facing climate change worth it?
IMO a clear NO.

I, like many others, wish her well.

Royals are humans and make mistakes, too. Maybe Amalia will one day appreciate the way her father prepared her, maybe not-only she can know.
We can only have opinions about it, like we can only have opinions about our neighbours' families.
And after all, we all face daily life's challenges so don't take it too serious.
FeelU

I'd say you sincerely underestimate the impact of being under serious (read: life-threatening and fully altering your life) security threads/risks. So, to remark that "we after all face daily life's challenges and therefore shouldn't take it too serious" is woefully ignorant of the very difficult situation she is in. Had she not been in that situation, she might have behaved quite differently than she did this time - she herself stated that 'it is still really hard on her' (which I think is a very honest response and not something everyone would be willing to admit).

Other than that, the Dutch royal couple indeed took the decision to not focus her whole youth on 'preparing for her role' by having her do lots of royal engagements but rather focused on 'allowing the princess (as well as her sisters0 to fully get to know her/themselves' before fully diving into the role she once will occupy as in their view that is the most important part of preparing someone to fulfill that duty. This means that she has had several 'public appearances' a year but was not expected to do solo engagements nor give speeches. That part of her role has gradually been introduced since she turned 18. She did several solo visits to the armed forces, speeched at the Council of State, attended a Council of State dinner and now made her first major (2-week!) trip to other parts of the Kingdom.

And in terms of whether she would want a different role. She discussed that in the book that was published for her 18th birthday (which provides a very good insight in her thinking: and she seems very well prepared in terms of understanding what is required of her). She has fully reconciled herself with her duty in life.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by valeas

On the one hand you insist that Amalia was not sheltered as some posters write on the other hand you deny to accept that if Amalia was all that prepared by NOT being sheltered she is expected to do much better, look less uncomfortable, less hiding like a shy toddler, showing more self- confidence and being expected is no ranking to others but would be natural behaviour IF a person had had the experience. Plus she has had counselling for years, so whats really wrong with her, she is not he first in both families facing mental challenges.

Obviously something went wrong, she is not well prepared, or still too shy or ???
I am not her judge and for me it is f.e. not unthinkable that she simply would prefer s.th. else for her future, 2023, an intelligent young girl, rich parents, BUT
constantly being criticised in the media ... for playing a powerless role in a constitutional monarchy in a small country facing climate change worth it?
IMO a clear NO.

I, like many others, wish her well.

Royals are humans and make mistakes, too. Maybe Amalia will one day appreciate the way her father prepared her, maybe not-only she can know.
We can only have opinions about it, like we can only have opinions about our neighbours' families.
And after all, we all face daily life's challenges so don't take it too serious.
FeelU

Many heirs at that same age looked like they would rather be somewhere else or do something else with their lives. In fact, CP Frederik comes to mind in that respect. And the jury is still out on Prince Christian (to be fair, not an heir yet).

I think Leonor, who was and is very sheltered, is a bit of an exception because her parents, in a country where the monarchy is constantly under threat, take their "jobs" extremely seriously (no time for the "royal fun" that we see often in Scandinavia and the Netherlands with the lavish family social events and so on).

Elisabeth, on the other hand, just seems to be an exceptionally well-rounded young woman (scholar, athlete, soldier, etc.) who has been brought up in a rather conservative, but happy family (although the broader Belgian RF is somewhat dysfunctional, Philippe and Mathilde's nuclear family is not). That helps to build her self-confidence, I think.

I also sometimes question the way Maxima and Willem-Alexander raised their daughters (who seem a bit frivolous), but I am sure Amalia will do OK by the time she finishes her education.

[Duc_et_Pair]

It is not easy for her as the media-attention was massive.

The Princess of Orange swarmed by the media during the King's Visit to the Caribbean: picture

However, I am sure she will make an amazing Queen, the spitting image of her great-great-grandmother Queen Wilhelmina at the same age: picture Amalia and picture Wilhelmina.

[valeas]

Originally Posted by Somebody

I'd say you sincerely underestimate the impact of being under serious (read: life-threatening and fully altering your life) security threads/risks. So, to remark that "we after all face daily life's challenges and therefore shouldn't take it too serious" is woefully ignorant of the very difficult situation she is in. Had she not been in that situation, she might have behaved quite differently than she did this time - she herself stated that 'it is still really hard on her' (which I think is a very honest response and not something everyone would be willing to admit).

Other than that, the Dutch royal couple indeed took the decision to not focus her whole youth on 'preparing for her role' by having her do lots of royal engagements but rather focused on 'allowing the princess (as well as her sisters0 to fully get to know her/themselves' before fully diving into the role she once will occupy as in their view that is the most important part of preparing someone to fulfill that duty. This means that she has had several 'public appearances' a year but was not expected to do solo engagements nor give speeches. That part of her role has gradually been introduced since she turned 18. She did several solo visits to the armed forces, speeched at the Council of State, attended a Council of State dinner and now made her first major (2-week!) trip to other parts of the Kingdom.

And in terms of whether she would want a different role. She discussed that in the book that was published for her 18th birthday (which provides a very good insight in her thinking: and she seems very well prepared in terms of understanding what is required of her). She has fully reconciled herself with her duty in life.

My opinion is not based on the caribbean trip only (sorry should have mentioned this) and no I do not underestimate her situation,
and yes I know the book. She said something like, if her father died now she did not feel ready to "reign", so to say she is not fit for the job suits that well.

The dutch RF seemed to act lets say naive (some say arrogant) in a series of situations, this might be of Amalia's situation, too.
Her uncle expected his daughter not to be bothered from press while she seemingly seeks her future in "influencing business" and media LOL

The comparison between our daily life challenges was meant to calm our fellow poster who IMO takes things a little too serious.

[Marengo]

Closed for review.