Princess Catharina-Amalia has been posted to a student training job with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The Dutch Royal House announced on Tuesday that the future queen of the Netherlands will complete a work-study programme with the air force through Defensity College, the next step in her military training.
Princess Catharina-Amalia was photographed meeting with Air Force officials to coincide with the announcement of her posting. The Royal Netherlands Air Force commented on the social media post: “Welkom 🧡✈️”
After completing her military training in January, the future queen attained the rank of Corporal and remained attached to the Defence Staff until this specialised posting.
At the time, the Dutch Royal House shared that Princess Catharina-Amalia is still considered a student, and would remain a private citizen while studying and training as a reservist.
Defensity College offers part-time training and postings to university students, offering them a “versatile programme focused on the pillars of work, personal development, and study,” according to their official website.
The future queen is also studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Dutch Law at the University of Amsterdam, having graduated last summer with a Bachelor’s in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics.
Princess Catharina-Amalia is the first Dutch royal woman to receive military training. Her mother, Queen Máxima, is the second.
In February, the Dutch Royal House announced that Queen Máxima was training as a reservist in the Royal Netherlands Army—attaining the rank of Private—because “our safety is no longer a given and she, like many others, wishes to contribute to that safety.”
After a year’s training, Queen Máxima will graduate with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and will serve where needed.
Princess Beatrix attended university while still heir but did not undergo formal military training. King Willem-Alexander trained with the Royal Netherlands Navy and later served as a reservist with all branches of the Dutch military.
Unlike other monarchies, the Dutch monarch is not head of the armed forces and instead holds specialised ranks and positions within all branches. The leader of the Dutch Armed Forces is the government.
