Princess Máxima Receives Machiavelli Prize

Princess Máxima of the Netherlands was today awarded the 2011 Machiavelli Prize at a ceremony at the Nieuwspoort Press Centre in The Hague.

Accompanied by her husband, the Prince of Orange, and their uncle, Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven (himself a former recipient of the prize), Princess Máxima accepted the prize which was awarded to her because of her “exceptional communication skills that have characterised her work as a Princess of the Netherlands for the past decade.” The prize was presented by the Chairman of the Machiavelli Foundation, Ms Marja Wagenaar.

During her acceptance speech, the Princess spoke of the years she has spent in the Netherlands and the role she has within the country. “I have had the priviledge of working with many people and organisations. This award is a compliment to that. You just called it a lifetime achievement award, Ms Wagenaar. But I consider the award as an encouragement to continue on this path,” Princess Máxima said. She also spoke of the important team work that she undertakes with her husband and her mother-in-law, Queen Beatrix, stating that they all play a role in a larger organisation – the monarchy.

Princess Máxima’s speech in Dutch and English.

The Machiavelli Prize is awarded annually by the Machiavelli Foundation, which was established in 1987. The aim of the foundation is to award those who promote communication in the public field.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Awards, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

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