Hannelore
Heir Presumptive
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2003
- Messages
- 2,600
- City
- Bruges
- Country
- Belgium
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...