King Willem-Alexander had glowing praise for his eldest daughter at the Dutch Royal Family’s annual spring photo call.
Princess Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange and first in line to the throne, was asked if she was ready to become queen.
Before she could answer, her father replied for her: Amalia was “born ready,” he said.
King Willem-Alexander recalled the moment he found out in 2013 that Princess Beatrix planned to abdicate in his favour, “I can say from personal experience, it is quite a shock.”
The future queen clarified that between her university studies and her part-time work with the reserves, she is working on her preparedness, adding, “It is not as if I prepare for the monarchy between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM in the afternoon. Life itself is a preparation.”
Amalia pointed out too, that if something were to happen to her father, and she ascended to the Dutch throne following his death instead of his abdication, the moment would hold dual meaning for her: “Not only because you lose the King then, but because I also lose my father.”
Meanwhile, Princess Alexia was asked about a rumoured boyfriend, Dutch singer Antoon, but refused to divulge any information. “I know that in the past I haven’t always done smart things in the context of the media, but I know my own truth, I know who I am and I know who my friends are. I cannot say more about that.”
When the press tried to follow up, Queen Máxima intervened, telling them that she would prefer “not to discuss such private matters.”
Princesses Amalia and Alexia were also questioned about a man who’d been arrested in February after a plot to potentially attack them was uncovered. Alexia praised their security details and their friends for keeping them safe and supported, and said, “You are shocked when you hear statements like that.”
The man was arrested with weapons allegedly engraved with Amalia and Alexia’s names, amongst other dangerous words and notebooks with alleged threats written in them. The suspect appeared in court earlier this month and his lawyer revealed that he thought he was having a love affair with Amalia.
King Willem-Alexander also revealed that the football-loving royal family would head to the United States next month to watch the Netherlands and Curaçao teams compete in the World Cup. Amalia stated that she might want to watch a match in an Amsterdam pub with the crowds.
When the Japanese Emperor visits the Netherlands next month, King Willem-Alexander said that watching the Netherlands-Japan match would be on their schedule.
