What do you think of Willem-Alexander?

Layla1971 · #1 11-22-2005, 03:23 PM

I was reading in another thread that a member thought of W-A as being self-righteous, but I've always liked him and never had the same opinion.
What do you think?

Layla1971 · #2 11-22-2005, 03:36 PM

I think that he showed courage to choose the woman that he loved to become his wife regardless of the pressure to choose between her and the throne.

He has proved himself to be a loving husband, and now father.

He is dedicated to his country and fulfills his duties without scandal.

And, he seems to be intelligent and capable of being a good King when the time comes (hopefullt not any time soon though, I like Queen Beatrix:) ).

I don't think that he's self-righteous or arrogant, actually I think that he's rather modest and down-to-earth.

Sancia · #3 11-22-2005, 03:40 PM

I read somewhere W-A wasn't not very bright nor intelligent. I know it's not required to become king but he did me nor negative nor positive impression.

auntie · #4 11-22-2005, 03:51 PM

Many of the royals are not academically gifted, fortunately all you need to be a well functioning royal, is to be pleasable and humane.

Layla1971 · #5 11-22-2005, 03:53 PM

I admit that IMO he seems intelligent, but does anyone know his academic record?

pollyemma · #6 11-22-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layla1971

I admit that IMO he seems intelligent, but does anyone know his academic record?

he comes across as very intelligent to me. he always answers media questions very well.

I think his academic record is decent. not great. he didnt reach the academic heights his mom did, but he certainly doesnt have anything to be ashamed of.

Layla1971 · #7 11-22-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pollyemma

he comes across as very intelligent to me. he always answers media questions very well.

I think his academic record is decent. not great. he didnt reach the academic heights his mom did, but he certainly doesnt have anything to be ashamed of.

He conducts himself well in interviews from what I can tell, since I don't speak Dutch. And, he seems well-spoken. I don't think an uneducated or stupid person could appear smart without actually being smart.:)

xxPatrickxx · #8 11-22-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pollyemma

he comes across as very intelligent to me. he always answers media questions very well.

I think his academic record is decent. not great. he didnt reach the academic heights his mom did, but he certainly doesnt have anything to be ashamed of.

He studies History at a University in Leiden

Layla1971 · #9 11-22-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxPatrickxx

He studies History at a University in Leiden

He studied Dutch history?

DDD · #10 11-22-2005, 05:39 PM

Willem-Alexander had to complete his military services first, A heir to a throne has to do that, although it doesn't mean a thing right now:d.
After that he studied the Dutch history, economic history and a lot of law studies, also at Leiden.
The city has always been the city where the heir(ess) studied, it is after all the University which has been a gift van Willem of Orange

California Girl · #11 11-22-2005, 07:25 PM

I was under the impression that W-A was a little rebellious in his teen years and that he was reluctant to become king one day. I've read similar accounts that Prince William of Wales felt this way as well. However, it appears that W-A has found a different areas in which he can occupy himself IOC, water management, etc...)while waiting for his time to become king. He appears to have a happy family life with Maxima and the girls. Hopefully, they'll have the next decade or so before he ascends to the throne.

**Marengo** · #12 11-23-2005, 03:03 AM

In his teens he was and he was send of to england to a boarding school.
He studied history in Leiden. His final essay was about General de Gaulle and France's decission to get out of NATO in 1953 (or something like that). He is not as bright as his brother Johan-Friso for example (who did 2 difficult studies, but he has another gift, he seems to be able to 'connect' to people, which is even more important in his future role.

The idea that he is not that bright was started when in the 80-ties the court stopped publishing his schoolgrades (I would hate my grades to be published as well) and later because he seemed to enjoy studentlife in leiden a bit to much.

Today he seems very much dedicated to his causes and prepared for the job. He seems down-to-earth, which is considered a big asset in The Netherlands. People expect him to have a more relaxed attitude than his mother and that he will reign more in the style of his grandmother. I have my doubts about that, I think he and Maxima will be (/are!) as worried as Beatrix about privacy etc, and not as open as Juliana was with her family for example.

Margrethe II · #13 11-23-2005, 04:45 AM

He seems to be a most sincere and kind indavidual who knows the responsibility that rests upon his shoulders.

From what I can tell Willem-Alexander would be a really very lovely person who likes to make everyone feel at ease and comfortable when in his presence.

I really think he is great.

"MII"

Maxie · #14 11-23-2005, 07:19 PM

I like WA very much. I have to agree with Marengo, he just seems so down to earth and that's something Dutch people greatly appreciate in any future monarch. I think he takes his duty very seriously, though during his childhood I got the impression that he wasn't to keen on being the future king. In college he wasn't too serious (he had the nickname 'Prins Pils' which means as much as 'Prince Beer') but well, who doesn't enjoy a good party when he or she is young? (At least I do

) I think he's very mature now and he seems to enjoy his family life with Maxima and their two daughters highly!

Little_star · #15 11-24-2005, 07:10 AM

I like Willem-Alexander and Maxima, they both seem very "normal", for want of a better word and down to earth.
I don't think either of them comes across as being self-righteous, if anything I would think the opposite as they both seem so incredibly bubbly and sociable!

ysbel · #16 11-25-2005, 06:07 PM

Willem-Alexander's "dumbness" probably had to do with his answer (or non-answer) to the reporter who asked him what was the purpose of the monarchy in the modern age. Willem didn't have an answer and Maxima spoke up. A little bit embarassing.

I don't think he's dumb but he seems happy to stand behind and be Maxima's escort which is kinda strange for a future king.

GlitteringTiaras · #17 11-25-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layla1971

I was reading in another thread that a member thought of W-A as being self-righteous, but I've always liked him and never had the same opinion.
What do you think?

I don't know that much about him so I cannot judge him or his actions.

What did he do that would make some one say that he was being self-righteous?

Layla1971 · #18 11-26-2005, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

I don't know that much about him so I cannot judge him or his actions.

What did he do that would make some one say that he was being self-righteous?

I don't know. I'll ask the person with this opinion and get back to you.

Genevieve · #19 11-27-2005, 10:37 PM

I think Willem possesses a certain "aloofness" that makes him appear distant, self righteous or unwarm. But I don't think that that is actually how he is. I think he's the opposite of those things.

His brother Johan on the other hands seems to be all those things on the surface and in actuality. There is something very arrogant and irksome about Johan.

I think Constantijn seems like the most approachable of the three brothers but Willem is a close second. Johan is the only one I wouldn't ever want to approach.

**Marengo** · #20 11-28-2005, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genevieve

I think Johan is the only one I wouldn't ever want to approach.

that makes two of us, he always seems so to be angry. I believe Princess Margarita told during one of her infamous interviews that, on queensday, he would sit in a bus waving with one hand and putting his middle finger up with the other (the middle finger BELOW the window, so that nobody could see). A very unpleasant man.