After questions were raised following the publication of a book, the Dutch Prime Minister has confirmed that Princess Catharina-Amalia could marry a woman and retain her right to the throne.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001, but the book questioned if this would apply to the crown as there would have to be an heir to the throne. Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote in response to questions from his own party, “The cabinet does not see that an heir to the throne or the king should abdicate if he or she would like to marry a partner of the same sex.” However, the book does not actually speculate about the Princess’ personal life.
“It’s frightfully complicated,” Mark Rutte explained. The Dutch constitution says that the monarch can only be succeeded by a “lawful descendant.” However, he added that this was all purely theoretical at this stage and said, “Let’s cross that bridge if we come to it.”
A royal marriage does need the approval of parliament, and there have been some instances in the royal family where members have given up their place in the line of succession to marry someone without seeking permission or because it seemed likely that permission would be denied. For example, the marriage of the late Prince Friso to Mabel Wisse Smit went ahead without approval from parliament.
