The Royal Family of The Netherlands, Current Events 2 (May 2006 - April 2007)

[purple_platinum]

2 more from ANP of Maxima in Middelburg :

 

[Squidgy]

I agree, the picture is lovely, and Pieter and Beatrix seem to be close to each other now. This was not always the case. Dorine Hermans wrote a book about Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven a couple of years ago and according to this book Bernhard and Beatrix had their doubts about Pieter. For example: Juliana wanted to give Pieter a title, but Bernhard and Beatrix were against it.

Oh, some good gossip Marengo!!

I wonder why Bernhard & Beatrix didn't want Pieter to have a title? Was it back in the early days & they didn't feel that Pieter had had a chance to prove himself yet and they were afraid to trust him with a title? or was it a personality clash? or just plain pettiness?

 

[Emily]

Oh Jess, great pictures of Maxima -- really can see how pretty that outfit is...thank you! I wonder who made it?

 

[Marengo]

Oh, some good gossip Marengo!!

I wonder why Bernhard & Beatrix didn't want Pieter to have a title? Was it back in the early days & they didn't feel that Pieter had had a chance to prove himself yet and they were afraid to trust him with a title? or was it a personality clash? or just plain pettiness?

The book is a bit mixed about it. It suggests that Bernhard (and Beatrix) weren't to impressed by him as a person, as he did not have any carreer etc. But I think it was foremost the principle that counted. Beatrix considered it oldfashioned to create him a count or a baron, as nobilty and titles did not play any role in the dutch society. Also, to make him a prince would create a precedent which might lead to problems in the next generation.

 

[Marengo]

From www.koninklijkhuis.nl, the speech by Princess Maxima:

Address by Princess Máxima, 13 May 2006

at the presentation of the Freedom from Want Award to Muhammed Yunus in Middelburg

Freedom from Want, President Roosevelt said, was a commitment to erase hunger, poverty and pestilence from the earth. He challenged the nations engaged in war to strive together in peace to achieve this magnificent objective, hopefully leading the world to the greatest age of Mankind.

On this 13th day of May, 2006, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Award for Freedom from Want is given to
Muhammad Yunus
the founder of the micro-credit movement, a visionary who lifted the poorest people of his country to new horizons of hope, a revolutionary who took the creative energy of capitalism and combined it with the moral obligations of social responsibility; a teacher and a leader who has inspired followers in countless places to understand that trust and solidarity are collateral assets of the poor.
Bangladesh is your birthplace and remains your home. Encouraged by parents who stressed the need of education and who gave you a legacy of compassion to enrich your brilliance, you became a Fulbright Scholar and earned a doctorate in economics at Vanderbilt University, returning to become a leading economist in your own country. In 1974, Bangladesh suffered a terrible famine in which thousands starved to death. As you witnessed the tragedy where life and death lost all meaning, your intellectual understanding of economics gave way to your need to understand the real-life economics of the very poor. “Why was it,” you asked, “that people who worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, did not have enough food to eat?”

You took your students on a field trip to the village of Jobra. You interviewed women who made bamboo furniture. Their labor was without profit. The lack of access to reasonable credit facilities made them prisoners of a system that assured their poverty. You understood that very small loans could make a significant difference in a poor person’s ability to survive.
With $27 dollars from your own pocket, you made the first loan to these village women who not only repaid it but also established a growing business that gave security to their families. A new concept – micro-credit – was born. It sounds simple today but in 1974 it took courage, wisdom and genius to do something to change the poverty you had observed. A great idea took root and altered the world of the very poor in dramatic and hopeful ways.

The traditional banking world was skeptical when you established the Grameen Bank in 1976 to make loans to the poor, but the bank’s record sustains your instincts. Grameen has made over $5 billion dollars in micro-loans with a repayment rate of 99%, a percentage unparalleled anywhere in the banking world – and all from the unbankable” the desperately poor. Your bank is owned by those it helps. It has made over 16 million loans, 96% to women, the most marginalized group among the poorest of the poor. The economic empowerment of women has had a dramatic impact on stabilizing their families as well as strengthening the communities where they live. You helped prove that women are powerful agents of change and creative managers of meager resources.
The micro-credit movement has allowed millions of individuals to work their way out of poverty with dignity. You have advocated that the right to credit should be recognized as a fundamental human right. The results of your work give powerful meaning to your advocacy. Increasing income, improving social and health situations in families and empowering women and men to a better involvement in the social, economic and political structure. Today, thousands of institutions all over the world operate micro-credit programs. All of them, inspired by your example.

There are those who say that your work is the single most important development in the struggle to eradicate Third World poverty in the past century. We know that you have made freedom possible for countless millions -- Freedom from Want. In the spirit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a grateful world salutes your extraordinary achievement.

 

[Squidgy]

The book is a bit mixed about it. It suggests that Bernhard (and Beatrix) weren't to impressed by him as a person, as he did not have any carreer etc. But I think it was foremost the principle that counted. Beatrix considered it oldfashioned to create him a count or a baron, as nobilty and titles did not play any role in the dutch society. Also, to make him a prince would create a precedent which might lead to problems in the next generation.

You're a wealth of information as usual Marengo. Thanks!

I guess any of those explanations sound plausible. But if it's the first explanation, I would imagine that Beatrix has changed her mind since the 60s. The way most of the family turned out last month to watch Pieter officially become a professor, it was almost like they were honouring him with a royal title rather than an academic one. It was so nice to see such respect being paid to him by the rest of the Royal Family .

 

[Marengo]

True, she has turned around completely. The book also makes comments on that. I believe she especially valued her sisters and brother-in-laws support in times when Claus was ill (and the couple took more obligations on them). Beatrix (and all her sons) seems very fond of Pieter now, and Pieter seems fond about Beatrix.
In all honesty it must be said that Beatrix (if the story is true) and Bernhard weren't the only ones who had doubts about Pieter. Most of the courtiers were not very favorable to thie first marriage of a royal to a dutch commoner. And when they were married people wondered what on earth to do with Pieter, as he wasn't royal but could not be expected (or allowed) to pursue his own carreer to the fullest.

 

[Alisa]

I like Máxima's outfit, just not on her. It's a bit too old an matronly for such a young (and vibrant) woman. It also makers her look larger than she really is.

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=243389&d=1147577384

 

[JohnRaven]

I believe it was Juliana (Queen at the time) who had the last word on the matter and I read that her reasoning was: I welcome the fact that my daughter is marrying a commoner, then why would I grant him a title? That would signal the opposite: that he needs a title as the spouse of my daughter. I believe Juliana ment well with it, but ultimately a silly reasoning if you ask me. They could easily have granted him a title of Count or even Baron (Van Vollenhoven). Would have been nice for their kids as well. Now they only have this non-hereditary princely title. Ah well. I suppose they don't see the need for it anymore anyway.

 

[maxima88]

The Queen was handing out the medail of honour of art and culture. in the third picture you can see Maxima as well

source ANP

 

[lucien]

Maxi, you don't have to believe that she flew to Rome only for shopping. But there seriously is a discussion in the politics about the royal family using the royal plane for all their private trips. I think it's time for the royals to pay for private flights and then they can do whatever they want.

Personally I don't like the red nails Maxima is wearing at the Appetjes event.

The discussion you refer to is a typical frumpy dutch pecunia issue by a party that wishes to play the mind of the vox populi in these "expensive times".

As a Head of State,and as the First Family in the land,(as well as the government ministers),(the present opposition loved flying the KBX while still in government,salon socialists,a special breed,love to kick at anything until they can use 'm themselves)they are entitled to the use of the KBX.So,and what if anyone flies to Valentino in Rome to fit some pieces of cloth?They will wear it representing the Netherlands on the right occasion.And for us to OH and AH while worn with the appropiate jewelry.

Furthermore,the Family is far from snobby,they detest that in a person,any person.Makes some posters shift in their seats,now doesn't it?

Note:not directed to anyone in particular,just those whom the shoe fits...

 

[Marengo]

Lucien, terribly well put. This nitpicking about costs in the dutch press/piublic (and most of the time without good knowledge of the situation) has annoyed me for years as well...

 

[Maxie]

Yesterday several members of the Dutch Royal Family attended the 10th anniversary of the Price Claus Fund.



Pics from ANP

 

[Her_Majesty]

Did Queen Beatrix not attend the ceremony?
She used to be there the last years, didn't she?

 

[johann]

Did Queen Beatrix not attend the ceremony?
She used to be there the last years, didn't she?

She did attend the ceremony, but wasn’t seated next to her eldest sons. So here she is (anp)


This news clip offers some insights. (source rtl.nl)

 

[Her_Majesty]

She did attend the ceremony, but wasn’t seated next to her sons. So here she is (anp)
http://img155.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=17167_3657919_122_420lo.jpg

This news clip offers some insights. (source rtl.nl)

thanks, johann!
Nice to see her wearing red again!

 

[GrandDuchess]

Joris on the Benelux Royals Message Board posted this great link to a photo report on Queen Beatrix and her sons Friso and Constantijn visiting the newly renovated Ridderzaal this week. This is where we all look forward to seeing Prinsjesdag taking place soon!


One of the pictures, from vrom.nl

 

[Maxie]

A very beautiful picture, GrandDuchess! The Ridderzaal definitely is very beautiful! Prinsjesdag will take place on September 19th this year, I think.

Here's another pic from yesterday!
From the Dutch Newspaper Telegraaf

 

[Marengo]

Joris on the Benelux Royals Message Board posted this great link to a photo report on Queen Beatrix and her sons Friso and Constantijn visiting the newly renovated Ridderzaal this week. This is where we all look forward to seeing Prinsjesdag taking place soon!

http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ridderzaal1ax5.jpg
One of the pictures, from vrom.nl

Thanks for posting that link here GD.

I am not to sure if I like the result though. The tapesteries on the walls look very nice, as do the chandeliers and the pilars.

I don´t like what they did to the fireplace though, especially the emblem of the European Union on top (don´t like the estethics of it, I have nothing against Europe).

Furthermore I think the throne looks a bit out of place, it ruins the simetrics of the hall. The platform oin which the throne has been places seems much smaller, as doies the canopy above it. The towelreck behind the throne and the now visible window (and wall) give it an empty look. The cloth of the throne and canopy is very beautiful though.

Another thing which I dislike is that they took away the flags from the roof. As the shields are probably all on the walls now it would be a bit double to have flags on the roof, but this way it looks empty.

 

[purple_platinum]

Another picture link from Royal Images :

http://www.royalimages.nl/theme/theme.asp?themeid=672

here are some of the photos..

Queen Beatrix, princes Willem-Alexander, Friso and Constantijn, and the princesses Mabel and Laurentien are present at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Prince Claus Fund in The Hague. Prince Claus fund is a platform for intercultural exchange. Prince Constantijn speeches. He is, with his brother prince Friso, chairman of honour of prince Claus fund.

 

[Marengo]

Laurentien is looking far to eagerly at those african clothes IMO. We should get very worried for Prinsjesdag!

(pic: royalimages)

 

[ZandraRae]

Will the Dutch royals have like a photo shoot for Christmas?

 

[kez_1982]

Will the Dutch royals have like a photo shoot for Christmas?

I hope so it'll be nice to see them all together, it'll be nice also (a bit out of theme, lol!), if Princess Margriet and her family had one too, haven't seen the van Vollenhoven kids lately.

 

[corazon]

Will the Dutch royals have like a photo shoot for Christmas?

the last year was a family photo, I hope this year we an see some like that

 

[Iain]

Thanks for posting that link here GD.

I am not to sure if I like the result though. The tapesteries on the walls look very nice, as do the chandeliers and the pilars.

I don´t like what they did to the fireplace, especially the emblem of the European Union on top (don´t like the estethics of it, I have nothing against Europe).

Furthermore I think the throne looks a bit out of place, it ruins the symetrics of the hall. The platform oin which the throne has been places seems much smaller, as does the canopy above it. The towelreck behind the throne and the now visible window (and wall) give it an empty look. The cloth of the throne and canopy is very beautiful though.

Another thing which I dislike is that they took away the flags from the roof. As the shields are probably all on the walls now it would be a bit double to have flags on the roof, but this way it looks empty.

Is it my imagination or has the throne been moved from one side of the hall to the other, and if so, why?

 

[Marengo]

It is standing at the same spot still. Queen Wilhelmina started out with a throne in front of the fire place but in those days without microphones it was difficult for many people to hear the Queen speak so they moved the throne to the middle, where it is still standing now.

 

[Iain]

It is standing at the same spot still. Queen Wilhelmina started out with a throne in front of the fire place but in those days without microphones it was difficult for many people to hear the Queen speak so they moved the throne to the middle, where it is still standing now.

Thanks for that Marengo. I must be getting mixed up. When watching the Queen give the Troonrede in 2004 and 2005 I seem to remember her enter the hall with the throne to her left, but last year I thought the throne was to her right. I must have been dreaming.

 

[dazzling]

02-02-2007 Orange Foundation The Oranje Fonds (Orange Foundation) celebrates their 5th anniversary. The Orange Foundation has Maxima and Willem Alexander as patron and was given to them for their wedding on the 02-02-2002. The princess and prince hand-over the jubileebook at Queen Beatrix. The Oranje Fonds has handed out this picture of the Princess, Prince and Queen. - picture

 

[Marengo]

For those who live in the Netherlands. They will show this tonight at 17.35 on ' Nederland 2'. I saw a small preview and HM commented that she admired how many people put energy in this good cause.

 

[Princess Robijn]

For those who live in the Netherlands. They will show this tonight at 17.35 on ' Nederland 2'. I saw a small preview and HM commented that she admired how many people put energy in this good cause.

Is it that show that was on until 18.00?? I didn't really like the outfit of Máxima (or the hair )