Marengo said:
In the NOS videoclip the Prince said that he hoped that due to picture opportunities like this the media will leave the princesses alone and that they can grow up as normal people without the feeling that they are haunted. He said that if his children would not have this feeling that he has failed as a parent.
I agree with him that in general, it's none of our business what they do after hours so to speak. If anything, that would dilute the mystique that's necessary for keeping the monarchy as an institution intact, not to mention the very argument that it's simply inhumane to stalk people.
That said, there's also the view that the more pro-active paparazzi would be vis-a-vis Alexander's young family, the more we, mere mortals, would be aware of the very cushy leisurly life these people get to have, while being paid lavishly for, let's face it, not that much, tangibly, in return.
Don't get me wrong, I understand where Alexander is coming from and in his shoes, I'd probably act the same, but, to quote movie star Uma Thurman, there's something very, let's face it, hypocrite, about being paid exhorbitant amounts to be the <face>, the spokesperson, of a product, or a country in this case, being in the lime light like that with all the extensive perks, privileges and prerogatives that existence comes with, yet demanding privacy all the same.
That's the very essence of my own ambivalence toward modern monarchy, as much as I can see the beneficial side of the concept, and as much as I'm a die-hard fan of Beatrix, who in my opinion is the personification of what a good king should be.
All the same, these pictures seem to show a cohesive family, which of course is the point.
I saw the footage and what I was most impressed with is how well Maxima speaks Dutch, which is a very difficult language to learn, let alone master. She really speaks it miles and miles better than Mathilde I think.