The royal family made headlines this weekend when it was discovered that they had taken a government jet and flown to their holiday villa in Greece. Last night, Princess Amalia and Princess Alexa returned to the Netherlands.Â
The return of the two princesses has once again sparked controversy over the matter. This is because it was unknown that they had stayed behind when the rest of the family flew back. Rutte knew this, but decided not to mention it in his letter to the House of Representatives.
KLM seems to be doing good business, as the royal family explains that there were not enough seats on the KLM flight that they took home on Saturday. The King, Queen, youngest princess and a security guard took the last four seats on the flight.
Not of importance
The question of why it took so long for the sisters to return, remains. Even the Royal House reporter, Kysia Hekster, is unsure. “That was not because no flights were available in the intervening days. It is unclear why” she tells the NOS. Hmmm….warmer weather, no parents…yes it’s a complete mystery.
Hekster believes that the Prime Minister would have known that the princesses had stayed behind but chose to leave this out of his letter.
The NOS reports that according to Rutte, it was only important that the King and Queen return because of the example they must set during these times. The issue of their daughters, remains a “private matter”.
Tactical error
However, politicians remain critical of Rutte’s approach to the matter, saying that by not addressing the issue in his letter, he has allowed for more controversy.
SP Member of Parliament Ronald van Raak describes it as “a stupid provocation that unfortunately only increases the damage”, the NOS reports.
Hekster is in agreement, telling the NOS “If you want a story to end, you shouldn’t approach it like that. Now you are unwillingly going to rekindle the discussion you wanted to close. It may be that he sees it as a private matter, but in any case he does not achieve the peace he likes around the king.”
What do you think of the delayed return of the princesses? Let us know in the comments below!Â
Feature Image: Wesley de Wit/RVD
Not responsible considering that corona cases are crazily increasing which means their citizens are suffering and dying
Unelected royalty abusing tax payers money and using government jet for vacation during corona. hmm, what’s wrong about this situation?! Why would that get anyone upset?
I think this is a private matter. Certain people who are against the kingdom as a institution choose to make an issue out of it. When I was much younger during my studies I was against the kingdom as I couldn’t see their contribution to society. Now I think it is as least an important symbol for unity for the country and important factor for stability in times of great unrest. After all the King is the head of state and his influence trickles down over the country. That’s why it is of imminent importance that the king is a person of integrity, standing above all political parties, and I believe he is such a person. However, he didn’t set the right example this time and the fact that he and his wife returned so quickly tells us that they themselves were aware of the sensitivity of the matter. As much as they might have needed this vacation with their children the countries interest comes first.
oh no, they staid behind on a holiday! get a life.
Maybe she was tested positive, so she couldn’t get into the KLM flight.
It’s high time we get rid of a completely outdated system of being ruled by the house of Orange. Amalia will receive a yearly income of € 1.6 million, completely ridiculous. WA gets an annual rise of 5%, pays no taxes. Hundreds of thousands of pensioners have NOT received any increase of their pension fit 8 years! I’m sick of it!
Netherlands is a lucky country,to still have a royal family these unsecure days. Lets support them,they are lovely.
I don’t think it’s ok right now for them to going holiday main while the country is in crisis with all corona, and second I don’t understand all of them get so much money for doing nothing and ofcouse olso don’t have to pay tax !!! What a life all of us have to work until 67 at this moment to pay for them to have everything, you have to work to get your retirement but some of us not even get there yet !!!!! And all the people who have the retirement not much but they work for hole there life,,,, but ofcouse the Royals family’s right ?? They don’t care , they just care for them self!!! That all Kings and Queens 👸 doing!! I’m sick of it 😞😞😞
It’s quite simple. The news told everyone they would fly back. If there would be a plane crash or a planned terrorist action the entire royal family would be wiped out. So that’s why they decided to split in two.
Shouldn’t the focus be on the question of how they had the nerve to take a private jet (paid for by us tax payers) to go home (instead of why they stayed behind – who cares?)? Maybe they saw their chance now that the issues of climate change are overruled by the over exposure of the so-called corona crisis? The Dutch royal family have always been much better at protecting their own (self given) rights than those of the people they are supposed to govern.