King Willem-Alexander's 50th Birthday: April 27, 2017

[Duc_et_Pair]

To me it looks like the Dutch people and media are "satisfied" with the TV-interview, with King's Day in Tilburg, with the special gala banquet for 150 guests drawn by a lottery, with the group-selfie on Dam Square, with the free opening of the palace for 50 hours including an exhibition about the period 1967-2017. And finally releasing two pictures from that evening.

That then the King wants one evening "entre nous" with family and friends, it looks like no one stumbles over that. There are no complaints in media or twitter it is all too exclusive, too secretive (which was heard when Queen Beatrix celebrated her 60th birthday).

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

There are no complaints in media or twitter it is all too exclusive, too secretive (which was heard when Queen Beatrix celebrated her 60th birthday).

But then it was at last allowed to make pics of the guests when they arrived to the Gala

[Hannelore]

it's a very smart move to first play Mister Approachable, with the dinner and the giant selfie and the interview where Wilfried DJ can just throw his car keys on the table when he enters the king's mansion... and then a fenced off party that the Dutch people will pay for - even though it's private, even though the king is a multimillionaire.

Who are WA & Maxima's advisors? They are very good IMO. They seem to stay one step ahead of the press. I don't think there have been any complaints (genre Greek villa) ever since WA became king, right?

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

That then the King wants one evening "entre nous" with family and friends, it looks like no one stumbles over that. There are no complaints in media or twitter it is all too exclusive, too secretive (which was heard when Queen Beatrix celebrated her 60th birthday).

And releasing one group photo with the royal guests would have made it less "entre nous" ?

[tommy100]

I completely understand why the party was private, I guess for royal watchers the frustrating thing is that we got pictures (a group photo at least) from the 50th birthday.

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I hope not!


It's basically if you celebrate your 50th birthday and your neighbors on the road stand outside your house singing to you, give you presents and wish you well and shout hurrah. - And you won't even show a couple of pics from the party on Facebook.
A bit of a let down, eh?

As much as i wished for more pictures, I disagree that this is a let down.

We got an interview, we got tons of pictures from the guests dinner and 2 pictures from the private dinner. We did get something at least. I guess when they said they wanted private we should understand it'll be private since they are also private people.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Felipe and Letizia don't look happy with forced smiles, having to pose for the press because of the location, while all other royals obviously were able to move in privacy, Letizia hates being photographed in private, the Spanish RF hate being pointed out on the 'fluff' events that all the other royal houses do who are not as serious as the Spanish royals are, and now of all royal houses it's them splashed all over HOLA etc attending a private royal birthday.

So I wonder, why only F&L in that location exposed to the press, and nobody else?

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Hannelore

it's a very smart move to first play Mister Approachable, with the dinner and the giant selfie and the interview where Wilfried DJ can just throw his car keys on the table when he enters the king's mansion... and then a fenced off party that the Dutch people will pay for - even though it's private, even though the king is a multimillionaire.

Who are WA & Maxima's advisors? They are very good IMO. They seem to stay one step ahead of the press. I don't think there have been any complaints (genre Greek villa) ever since WA became king, right?

Heu... the refurbishment of Noordeinde 66 as a pied-à-terre for Princess Beatrix with a prize tag of ca. 4 million Euro. The restoration of the Glass State Carriage (1,2 million Euro) and of the Golden State Carriage (1,2 million Euro). The restoration and refurbishment of Huis ten Bosch Palace (60 million Euro). The new Boeing 737 Business Jet for King and Government (89 million Euro). The temporary offices at Villa De Eikenhorst (400.000 Euro). The future annual allowance of Princess Amalia (1,5 million Euro when she becomes 18 years old). The suspiction of having artworks looted from Jews in WWII. (After a long and exhausting investigation only one painting, bought by Queen Juliana at an auction somewhere after the war, had a looted Jewish origin and was returned to the heirs). The suspiction that Prince Bernhard had made a deal with the Government back in 1972 about taxation of the Royal House (still under investigation), etc. etc.

All of these items have stirred some rumours in media and politics but it all ebbed away pretty soon, I must say. Possibly because the State enjoyed (and still enjoys) favourable Budgets: there is more income for the State than is spent. And on 265.000.000.000,00 of annual State expenditures it all is relative.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Felipe and Letizia don't look happy with forced smiles, having to pose for the press because of the location, while all other royals obviously were able to move in privacy, Letizia hates being photographed in private, the Spanish RF hate being pointed out on the 'fluff' events that all the other royal houses do who are not as serious as the Spanish royals are, and now of all royal houses it's them splashed all over HOLA etc attending a private royal birthday.

So I wonder, why only F&L in that location exposed to the press, and nobody else?

They could have taken the underground parking exit in a blinded car, so my guess is that they simply requested the car to stand in front of Hotel Des Indes.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Empress Merel

This is genuinely one of the strangest comparisons I have read in a long time.

Dutch people are not checking for pictures of foreign royals nor do we insist our RF to share every detail of their lives with us. It's not our business? If W-A wishes to have a private party away from the cameras, that is up to them. They don't owe you or us a picture.

Hear Hear Hear!!

To some it's just never enough,or good enough or anything...never mind.
Our RF know what they do and lives up to their responsibilities.

All members...even the almost 80-years old..no retirement &/or laziness here.But Private is private,basta.
I think we already were downright spoiled with all the TV issues and beautifull pics & images and what not related to HM birthday!Chapeau to our King and the RF.

Well done I'd say.

[Hannelore]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Heu... the refurbishment of Noordeinde 66 as a pied-à-terre for Princess Beatrix with a prize tag of ca. 4 million Euro. The restoration of the Glass State Carriage (1,2 million Euro) and of the Golden State Carriage (1,2 million Euro). The restoration and refurbishment of Huis ten Bosch Palace (60 million Euro). The new Boeing 737 Business Jet for King and Government (89 million Euro). The temporary offices at Villa De Eikenhorst (400.000 Euro). The future annual allowance of Princess Amalia (1,5 million Euro when she becomes 18 years old). The suspiction of having artworks looted from Jews in WWII. (After a long and exhausting investigation only one painting, bought by Queen Juliana at an auction somewhere after the war, had a looted Jewish origin and was returned to the heirs). The suspiction that Prince Bernhard had made a deal with the Government back in 1972 about taxation of the Royal House (still under investigation), etc. etc.

All of these items have stirred some rumours in media and politics but it all ebbed away pretty soon, I must say. Possibly because the State enjoyed (and still enjoys) favourable Budgets: there is more income for the State than is spent. And on 265.000.000.000,00 of annual State expenditures it all is relative.

Oh LOL... How could I forget about all that... I guess my brain classified it as fidgeting about heritage that has to be kept in good state anyways...

[Marengo]

Only a few royal reporters and fans have complained about the private part being this private. One mentioned the costs for the dutch taxpayer of this private party. Apparently helicopters were needed to secure the Maasvlakte.

The king just gave the most open and honest interview of a Dutch royal in decades. He has opened up palaces, stables and collections for people to see, he allows the press/ photographers at functions where his mother did not, etc.

I agree with Hannelore that their press advisors seem to be very competent. It helps that the media is more than ever under pressure and that the interns working at printed and online press mostly copy/paste much of the information they receive to save time and put content online.

But still ... would it have killed them to release a group photo of the royal guests, as was done at both Wa's as Maxima's 40th birthdays. At beatrix 60th the camera's were there for most of the day, and were allowed to film -among other things- the reception in the stedelijk museum and the tour and concert and train trip to palace het Loo and the arrival of guests to the palace ball. I did see a guestlist on all occassions too.

The awnser is of course: no. It would not have killed them to make a group photo or let the royal guests -who are used to press attention- be photographed upon arrival at the palace. It is strange that they decided to shield their guests as if it was a state secret this time. Why the need for such secrecy? Even queen Beatrix never went this far. Is the presence of daddy Zorreguieta more of a problem now WA is king? I doubt it. But that they chose to protect the identities of their guests to such an extend is IMHO bizarre.

Anyway, nobody cares except a select group of royalty watchers and reporters so why should the king? The dutch press voluntarily agreed to be muled by signing the media code.

We can fortunately look forward to the celebrations in Norway, as to me the one here ended with a disappointment. In Scandinavia they still do these things properly though it is likely that the heirs will make changes in due time.

[carlota]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Felipe and Letizia don't look happy with forced smiles, having to pose for the press because of the location, while all other royals obviously were able to move in privacy, Letizia hates being photographed in private, the Spanish RF hate being pointed out on the 'fluff' events that all the other royal houses do who are not as serious as the Spanish royals are, and now of all royal houses it's them splashed all over HOLA etc attending a private royal birthday.

So I wonder, why only F&L in that location exposed to the press, and nobody else?

i actually thought letizia was quite happy showing off her new outfit (and who wouldn't like to show off that beautiful dress?!)

there was speculation in another thread that they may be at the hotel because they didn't bring their kids, in order to make space for couples who brought offspring. i don't know, but i imagine there's plenty of room in the palace to host any invited guests and their kids without space problems.

maybe they just wanted some more privacy after the event was over and thought they could have it in the hotel?

even though F&L seem to like keeping their privacy in intimate situations, this is one of those events that is 'semi-institutional' in my opinion. sure enough they are probably good friends with WA and maxima, but, in my opinion, F&L see it first and foremost as their duty to attend these sort of events - proof of that is that it was sofia's birthday on that weekend, and they chose to go to the netherlands instead. as good friends as WA and maxima may be, your kids will always come first so it is clear to me they are attending mostly because they are expected to.

[Turandot]

Since it is my first post, hello to everybody here.

My idea: It is possible that F and L only arrived in the afternoon because they had a small birthday celebration for Sofia in the morning and perhaps therefore they were the only royal guests in that hotel. A flight from Madrid to Amsterdam takes only a bit over two and a half hours.
Is it sure that other royals had their young kids with them or is that only speculation by the press? I cannot imagine Victoria and Daniel taking their kids along because they had to leave already on Sunday morning in order to be present at Carl Gustav's birthday celebration. Thus, they did not attend the lunch at Eikenhorst.

[Duke of Marmalade]

I think WA did a lot for the public, a lot more than other heirs usually do:
(correct me if I'm wrong)
- had 3 personal pictures released
- did Kingsplay
- did very personal interview
- did Kingsday with the whole family
- did a dinner with 150 commoners with similar birthday and a super selfie in public in front of the palace
- then had a private birthday dinner with family, friends & other royals.

Of course it would have been perfect to have a short photocall for all guests a la Letizia & Felipe, this is what happened at the 40th birthday party.

I agree with those who think that the DRF have very clever press advisors, even though they have the press gagged they come across as super authentic and approachable, they bring their daughters along and introduce them to events with the public etc etc.

That's much more than other heirs do and we'll see, what they will do, now that they are approaching 50 as well, Felipe next January and Frederik next May.

[carlota]

i saw this picture of WA's 50th birthday banquet. to the right of the picture, the lady wearing white seems to be wearing a large hat. this was an evening reception where you can see the queen wearing a long dress (and other guests). from the pictures i have seen there weren't other ladies wearing hats. is it correct etiquette to wear a hat for an evening banquet inside? i assume the lady was wearing a long dress, but i may be wrong.

http://us.hola.com/imagenes/hola-en-...540-king-a.jpg

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I think WA did a lot for the public, a lot more than other heirs usually do:
(correct me if I'm wrong)
- had 3 personal pictures released
- did Kingsplay
- did very personal interview
- did Kingsday with the whole family
- did a dinner with 150 commoners with similar birthday and a super selfie in public in front of the palace
- then had a private birthday dinner with family, friends & other royals.


That's much more than other heirs do and we'll see, what they will do, now that they are approaching 50 as well, Felipe next January and Frederik next May.

This was the 50th celebration of King W-A, not the heir. I don't follow the Dutch royals but it seems they make a much bigger thing of all birthdays not just this one. The next 50th is King Felipe. I can't comment much on that as I don't know how they usually celebrate birthdays.

After that, it's the 50th of Crown Prince Frederik. A year from now we'll see how that is celebrated but I doubt it will be as big as this.
He would pretty quickly be accused of not knowing his place or upstaging the regent or some such.

[Empress Merel]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Why? For wishing to see some footage from the party?
Well, that's pretty much why we are here, isn't it?
That's what we hope for.

And not being Dutch myself, I nevertheless don't think the Dutch people would mind if the palace doors were opened a little bit more on this occasion.

No, I meant that you compared them by not sharing a picture with someone not sharing on Facebook what others have done for their birthday. Which in itself is a ridiculous notion.

Kingsday is celebrated nation wide and the DRF have put in a lot of appearance these past days. More than you will ever get with other families. That said, barely any Dutch person cares that he wishes to have a private party, we don't expect them to share everything with the nation. People who turn 50 generally tend to celebrate in a big way here. It's tradition.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Nordic

This was the 50th celebration of King W-A, not the heir. I don't follow the Dutch royals but it seems they make a much bigger thing of all birthdays not just this one. The next 50th is King Felipe. I can't comment much on that as I don't know how they usually celebrate birthdays.

After that, it's the 50th of Crown Prince Frederik. A year from now we'll see how that is celebrated but I doubt it will be as big as this.
He would pretty quickly be accused of not knowing his place or upstaging the regent or some such.

Sorry for misunderstanding, I was responding to critizism regarding WA cutting the public off by keeping everything private and not even releasing a group picture (until now) as I think that he has done a lot publicly, more than is peers usually do. Its a pity we see zero apart from a few bus/car shots and Felipe and Letizia posing at the hotel, but this is as much as we got from Prince Charles for his 60th birthday.

Of course Frederik is CP and his public celebrations won't be comparable because he is not King yet, but I am sure we will get photos of other royals who will come to the private birthday party. The nordic royals are usually very relaxed about that.

Regarding Felipe as King, we will see nothing comparable to WA, not with the public and especially not with a private party he will certainly have. The SRF don't have a history of being as folksy or approachable as the Dutch, just to mention Queens/Kingsday of past and present, unthinkable in Spain Felipe will take part in a contest of who can throw a loo how far etc. My guess is they will publish some pictures and maybe an interview to strengthen his image as serious King.

The DRF is really loved by the public, most of all because of the touch of genius choice of wife that WA did, thanks to vavoom Maxima the republican movement is back at stone age and of course because of the way WA developed his own personality to the better, now being a content person with himself and his family and a competent monarch.

Of course all royal houses have to walk a tightrope, but the Dutch do it pretty well/have mastered the art of walking a tightrope in all aspects.

[Duc_et_Pair]

The most remarkable is that all other Royal Houses have been silent as well. No leaks, which is an achievement these days...