Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Encyclopedia
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange (Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix
and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent
to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg
since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied history at Leiden University
. Prince Willem-Alexander is currently interested in international water management
issues and sports. He married Princess Máxima
in 2002. They have three daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia
(born 2003), Princess Alexia
(born 2005), and Princess Ariane
(born 2007).
in Utrecht
, the Netherlands
. He is the first child of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
and Prince Claus of the Netherlands, and the first grandchild of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
. From birth Willem-Alexander has the titles Prince of the Netherlands , Prince of Orange-Nassau
(Dutch: Prins van Oranje-Nassau), and Jonkheer
of Amsberg (Dutch: Jonkheer van Amsberg). He was baptised as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church
on 2 September 1967 in Saint Jacob's Church in The Hague
. His godparent
s are Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
, Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck
, Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra
, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
.
He has two younger brothers: Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau, born in 1968, and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
, born in 1969. He lived with his family at the castle Drakesteijn
in the hamlet Lage Vuursche
near Baarn
from his birth until 1981, when they moved to the larger palace Huis ten Bosch
in The Hague. His mother Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, after his grandmother Juliana abdicated. He then received the hereditary title Prince of Orange
, as heir apparent
to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, consisting of the autonomous countries the Netherlands
, Aruba
, Curaçao
and Sint Maarten.
near Llantwit Major (1983 to 1985), where the prince had friends, and from where he received his International Baccalaureate.
After high school he performed military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy
from August 1985 to January 1987. He received his training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College
and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, where he was an ensign
. In 1988, he received additional training at the ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen and became a lieutenant (junior grade).
From 1987, Prince Willem-Alexander studied history at Leiden University
and received his academic degree in 1993. His final dissertation was on the Dutch response to France
's decision under President Charles de Gaulle
to leave NATO's integrated command structure. During this period he received the nickname "prins pils" (eng: prince pilsner)
Prince Willem-Alexander is interested in water management
issues. He is an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century and patron of the Global Water Partnership, a body established by the World Bank
, the UN, and the Swedish Ministry of Development. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation on 12 December 2006.
The prince is a member of the Raad van State
, the highest council to the Dutch government that is chaired by his mother, Queen Beatrix. As part of his royal duties, he holds commissions in the Dutch Army (as brigadier), Navy (as commandeur) and Air Force (as commodore).
He was a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee until 1998 when he was made a member of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC). To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1928 Summer Olympics
held in Amsterdam, he has expressed support to bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics
.
He is an aircraft pilot and sportsman. In 1989, the Prince flew as a volunteer for the African Medical Research and Education Foundation (AMREF) in Kenya
, and in 1991 he spent a month flying for the Kenya Wildlife Service. To make sure he flies enough hours a year to retain his license, he also regularly flies the Dutch royal airplane when he and his family travel abroad.
Using the name "W.A. van Buren
", one of the less well-known surnames of the House of Orange-Nassau
, he has participated in the New York City Marathon
, where his aunt, Princess Christina
, and several cousins live. In the Netherlands, he was a participant in the Frisian Eleven Cities ice skating marathon
.
The Prince was seen cheering on the Netherlands' national football team
during their hosting year, at Euro 2000, always wearing an orange vest. He memorably gave a nervous laugh of disbelief as the Netherlands missed their second penalty of normal time against the Italians in the semi-final.
Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife travelled to South Africa
to support the national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, and were shown on worldwide television wearing orange-themed clothing.
On 2 February 2002, he married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti
(born 17 May 1971) at the Beurs van Berlage
in Amsterdam. Máxima is an Argentine
woman of Spanish
and Italian ancestry who prior to their marriage worked as an investment banker in New York City
. The marriage triggered significant controversy due to the bride's father's prior role in the Argentinian military dictatorship.
The prince is a direct descendant of Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
, eldest daughter of British King George II
. However, under the British Act of Settlement
, Prince Willem-Alexander forfeited his (distant) succession rights to the throne of the United Kingdom
, because he married a Roman Catholic.
instituted a media code on June 21, 2005 which essentially states that:
During a ski vacation in Argentina
, several photographs were taken of the Prince and his family during the private part of their holiday (including one by Associated Press
staff photographer Natacha Pisarenko) in spite of the media code, and after a photo op had earlier been provided. The Associated Press decided to publish some of the photos. The pictures were also republished by several Dutch media.
Prince Willem-Alexander and the RVD jointly filed suit
against the Associated Press on August 5, 2009. The trial started on August 14 at the district court
in Amsterdam
and concluded with a verdict on August 28. The court found in favor of the Prince and the RVD, citing that the royal couple has a right to privacy and the pictures in question add nothing to any public debate, nor are they of any particular value to society (since they are not photographs of the royals "at work"). Associated Press was sentenced to stop further publication of the photographs, on pain of a €1000 fine per violation with a €50000 maximum.
peninsula of Machangulo
. The development project was aimed at building an ecologically responsible vacation resort, including a hotel and several luxury vacation houses for investors. The project was to invest heavily in the local economy of the peninsula (building schools and a local clinic) with an eye both towards responsible sustainability and maintaining a local staff. After contacting Mozambican president Armando Guebuza
to verify that the Mozambican government had no objections, the couple decided to invest in two villas.
In 2009 there was controversy and a swirl of rumors about the project and the Prince's position in relation to it. Politician Alexander Pechtold
questioned the morality of building such a resort in a poor country like Mozambique. There were allegations of corruption involving a contractor on the project and project delays in constructing the schools and clinic.
In November 2009, there were a number of parliamentary debates on the issue and Prime Minister
Jan Peter Balkenende
was called to answer questions. He explained that the project was a private affair of the Prince, but that extra distance had been created between the Prince and the business of the project to avoid entanglements by creating a foundation
to manage the Prince's interests. The press called the independence of that foundation into question, because it was run by a personal friend of the Prince's and a co-investor in the project.
On November 20, 2009, the prime minister returned to parliament to announce that the Prince and Princess had decided, due to the public and parliamentary controversy, to sell the property in Machangulo once their house was completed. To this end he read a letter in parliament written by the Prince personally. The house was due to be sold on completion in 2010.
When his mother Queen Beatrix became the queen regnant of the Netherlands, prince Willem-Alexander obtained the title "Prince of Orange
" as new heir to the Dutch throne. He is formally styled as His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange.
He is the first male heir apparent
to the Dutch throne
since Prince Alexander
, son of King William III, who died in 1884. Prince Willem-Alexander has indicated that upon succeeding his mother, he would assume the throne under the regnal name
William IV. If he ascends the throne, he will be the Netherlands' first male monarch since 1890.
Royal Netherlands Navy – Reserve
Royal Netherlands Air Force – Reserve
Royal Netherlands Army – Reserve
Royal Marechaussee – Reserve
Foreign orders : Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
(2006) : Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
: Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit of Chile
: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
: Grand Cross of the Federal Cross of Merit : Grand Cross of the Order of Mahaputera
: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
: Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau : Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1996) : Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic : Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (2006) : Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
(2004) : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Liberator
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg
House of Amsberg
House of Amsberg is the name of a noble family in the German lands . It is a corruption of Amtsberg a town in Germany and founded by Jürgen Amtsberg , master blacksmith in Schwichtenberg. There is also a place North Amsberg or Norr Amsberg in Sweden, named after the original one in Germany...
since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied history at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. Prince Willem-Alexander is currently interested in international water management
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
issues and sports. He married Princess Máxima
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
in 2002. They have three daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands
The official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
(born 2003), Princess Alexia
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
(born 2005), and Princess Ariane
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the daughter of heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima...
(born 2007).
Early life
Prince Willem-Alexander was born on 27 April 1967 in the University Medical CenterUniversity Medical Center Utrecht
The University Medical Center Utrecht or UMCU is the main hospital of the city of Utrecht. It is affiliated with the Utrecht University. Since the foundation of the university in 1636 an academic hospital has existed in various forms...
in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He is the first child of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
and Prince Claus of the Netherlands, and the first grandchild of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was prince consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of six children, including the current monarch Queen Beatrix....
. From birth Willem-Alexander has the titles Prince of the Netherlands , Prince of Orange-Nassau
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
(Dutch: Prins van Oranje-Nassau), and Jonkheer
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
of Amsberg (Dutch: Jonkheer van Amsberg). He was baptised as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
on 2 September 1967 in Saint Jacob's Church in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. His godparent
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
s are Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was prince consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of six children, including the current monarch Queen Beatrix....
, Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck
Ferdinand von Bismarck
Ferdinand, Prince von Bismarck is a German politician and the Prince of Bismarck since 1975.The son of politician and diplomat Otto Christian Archibald von Bismarck and great-grandson of statesman Otto von Bismarck, the founder of modern Germany, he grew up in London, Rome and Sweden, and went to...
, Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra
Jelle Zijlstra
Jelle Zijlstra was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti Revolutionary Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from November 22, 1966 until April 5, 1967....
, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
.
He has two younger brothers: Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau, born in 1968, and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands is the third and youngest son of Queen Beatrix and the late Prince Claus of the Netherlands. His godparents are King Constantine II of Greece, Prince Aschwin zu Lippe-Biesterfeld, Axel Freiherr von dem Bussche-Streithorst, Max Kohnstamm, and Mrs. C...
, born in 1969. He lived with his family at the castle Drakesteijn
Drakesteijn
Drakesteijn or Drakestein is a small castle at 9 Slotlaan in the hamlet of Lage Vuursche, in the municipality of Baarn. The owner is Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Beatrix bought the castle in 1959, when she was the Crown Princess, and took up residence in 1963...
in the hamlet Lage Vuursche
Lage Vuursche
Lage Vuursche is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Baarn, and lies about 5 km west of Soest, in the middle of the forest. Drakestein, the former residence of Queen Beatrix, is situated just east of the village.In 2001, the village of Lage-Vuursche...
near Baarn
Baarn
Baarn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The municipality Baarn :The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche.- The town Baarn :...
from his birth until 1981, when they moved to the larger palace Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch is one of the three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family, located in The Hague in the Netherlands. It has been home to Queen Beatrix since 1981. The other Royal palace in The Hague, Noordeinde Palace, is used for work-related purposes...
in The Hague. His mother Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, after his grandmother Juliana abdicated. He then received the hereditary title Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
, as heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, consisting of the autonomous countries the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and Sint Maarten.
Education and military training
Prince Willem-Alexander attended Nieuwe Baarnse Elementary School in Baarn from 1973 to 1979. He went to three different high schools: the Baarns Lyceum in Baarn from 1979 to 1981, the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague from 1981 to 1983, and the United World College of the Atlantic in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
near Llantwit Major (1983 to 1985), where the prince had friends, and from where he received his International Baccalaureate.
After high school he performed military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
from August 1985 to January 1987. He received his training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College
Royal Netherlands Naval College
The Royal Netherlands Naval College in Den Helder is the service academy of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The KIM offers a program of four or five years and also a short course of sixteen to twenty-two months...
and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, where he was an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
. In 1988, he received additional training at the ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen and became a lieutenant (junior grade).
From 1987, Prince Willem-Alexander studied history at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
and received his academic degree in 1993. His final dissertation was on the Dutch response to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's decision under President Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
to leave NATO's integrated command structure. During this period he received the nickname "prins pils" (eng: prince pilsner)
Work and royal duties
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
issues. He is an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century and patron of the Global Water Partnership, a body established by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, the UN, and the Swedish Ministry of Development. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation on 12 December 2006.
The prince is a member of the Raad van State
Dutch Council of State
In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience...
, the highest council to the Dutch government that is chaired by his mother, Queen Beatrix. As part of his royal duties, he holds commissions in the Dutch Army (as brigadier), Navy (as commandeur) and Air Force (as commodore).
He was a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee until 1998 when he was made a member of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC). To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
held in Amsterdam, he has expressed support to bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics
2028 Summer Olympics
The 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad are an international athletic event that will be organized by the International Olympic Committee...
.
Leisure activities
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and in 1991 he spent a month flying for the Kenya Wildlife Service. To make sure he flies enough hours a year to retain his license, he also regularly flies the Dutch royal airplane when he and his family travel abroad.
Using the name "W.A. van Buren
Van Buren (surname)
* The Dutch word "van" is equivalent to the English word "of" and the German word "von". Hence it is not usually capitalized in names.* Buren is a city/estate in the Netherlands which was ruled by the Egmond family; Dutch nobles were commonly named after their possessions.* Literally translated,...
", one of the less well-known surnames of the House of Orange-Nassau
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
, he has participated in the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
, where his aunt, Princess Christina
Princess Christina of the Netherlands
Princess Maria Christina of the Netherlands , Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld, is the youngest of four daughters born to Queen regnant Juliana of the Netherlands and her Prince consort Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld.-Birth:She was born Maria Christina at Soestdijk Palace,...
, and several cousins live. In the Netherlands, he was a participant in the Frisian Eleven Cities ice skating marathon
Elfstedentocht
The Elfstedentocht is the world's largest and longest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held irregularly in the province of Friesland, Netherlands.The tour, almost 200 km in length, is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven historic...
.
The Prince was seen cheering on the Netherlands' national football team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
during their hosting year, at Euro 2000, always wearing an orange vest. He memorably gave a nervous laugh of disbelief as the Netherlands missed their second penalty of normal time against the Italians in the semi-final.
Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife travelled to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to support the national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, and were shown on worldwide television wearing orange-themed clothing.
Marriage
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
(born 17 May 1971) at the Beurs van Berlage
Beurs van Berlage
The Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the center of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903. It influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists and the Amsterdam School...
in Amsterdam. Máxima is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
woman of Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Italian ancestry who prior to their marriage worked as an investment banker in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The marriage triggered significant controversy due to the bride's father's prior role in the Argentinian military dictatorship.
The prince is a direct descendant of Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange was the second child and eldest daughter of King George II of Great Britain and his consort, Caroline of Ansbach. She was the spouse of William IV, Prince of Orange, the first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands...
, eldest daughter of British King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
. However, under the British Act of Settlement
Act of Settlement 1701
The Act of Settlement is an act of the Parliament of England that was passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English throne on the Electress Sophia of Hanover and her Protestant heirs. The act was later extended to Scotland, as a result of the Treaty of Union , enacted in the Acts of Union...
, Prince Willem-Alexander forfeited his (distant) succession rights to the throne of the United Kingdom
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
, because he married a Roman Catholic.
Family privacy and the press
In an attempt to strike a balance between privacy for the royal family and availability to the press, the Netherlands Government Information Service (RVD)Netherlands Government Information Service
The Netherlands Government Information Service is a Dutch government agency. The RVD is the official information service of the Dutch government and is the spokesbody for the prime minister, the Council of Ministers and the Dutch Royal House...
instituted a media code on June 21, 2005 which essentially states that:
- Photographs of the members of the royal house while performing their duties are always permitted.
- For other occasions (like holidays), the RVD will arrange a photo-op on condition that the press leave the family alone for the rest of the holiday.
During a ski vacation in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, several photographs were taken of the Prince and his family during the private part of their holiday (including one by Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
staff photographer Natacha Pisarenko) in spite of the media code, and after a photo op had earlier been provided. The Associated Press decided to publish some of the photos. The pictures were also republished by several Dutch media.
Prince Willem-Alexander and the RVD jointly filed suit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against the Associated Press on August 5, 2009. The trial started on August 14 at the district court
District court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and concluded with a verdict on August 28. The court found in favor of the Prince and the RVD, citing that the royal couple has a right to privacy and the pictures in question add nothing to any public debate, nor are they of any particular value to society (since they are not photographs of the royals "at work"). Associated Press was sentenced to stop further publication of the photographs, on pain of a €1000 fine per violation with a €50000 maximum.
Machangulo affair
On 10 July 2008, the Prince and Princess announced that they had invested in a development project on the MozambicanMozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
peninsula of Machangulo
Machangulo
The Machangulo peninsular is situated in the Southern most part of Mozambique adjacent to Inhaca and Portuguese Islands in the Bay of Maputo....
. The development project was aimed at building an ecologically responsible vacation resort, including a hotel and several luxury vacation houses for investors. The project was to invest heavily in the local economy of the peninsula (building schools and a local clinic) with an eye both towards responsible sustainability and maintaining a local staff. After contacting Mozambican president Armando Guebuza
Armando Guebuza
Armando Emílio Guebuza is a Mozambican politician and the President of Mozambique since 2005.- Career :Armando Emílio Guebuza was born in 20 January 1943 in Portuguese East Africa...
to verify that the Mozambican government had no objections, the couple decided to invest in two villas.
In 2009 there was controversy and a swirl of rumors about the project and the Prince's position in relation to it. Politician Alexander Pechtold
Alexander Pechtold
Alexander Pechtold is a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 party. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 30 November 2006 as well as Parliamentary group leader since 23 November 2006...
questioned the morality of building such a resort in a poor country like Mozambique. There were allegations of corruption involving a contractor on the project and project delays in constructing the schools and clinic.
In November 2009, there were a number of parliamentary debates on the issue and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Pieter "Jan Peter" Balkenende is a Dutch politician of the party Christian Democratic Appeal .He was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 22 July 2002 until 14 October 2010, having led four coalition governments, cabinets Balkenende I, II, III and IV, none of which served a full...
was called to answer questions. He explained that the project was a private affair of the Prince, but that extra distance had been created between the Prince and the business of the project to avoid entanglements by creating a foundation
Private foundation
A private foundation is a legal entity set up by an individual, a family or a group of individuals, for a purpose such as philanthropy. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the U.S. with over $38 billion in assets...
to manage the Prince's interests. The press called the independence of that foundation into question, because it was run by a personal friend of the Prince's and a co-investor in the project.
On November 20, 2009, the prime minister returned to parliament to announce that the Prince and Princess had decided, due to the public and parliamentary controversy, to sell the property in Machangulo once their house was completed. To this end he read a letter in parliament written by the Prince personally. The house was due to be sold on completion in 2010.
Issue
- Her Royal Highness Princess Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen VictoriaPrincess Catharina-Amalia of the NetherlandsThe official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
born 7 December 2003 - Her Royal Highness Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela LaurentienPrincess Alexia of the NetherlandsPrincess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
born 26 June 2005 - Her Royal Highness Princess Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima InésPrincess Ariane of the NetherlandsPrincess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the daughter of heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima...
born 10 April 2007
Titles and styles
- His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (1967–1980)
- His Royal Highness Willem-Alexander, Prince of OrangePrince of OrangePrince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
, Prince of the NetherlandsDutch Royal HouseIn the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Monarchy is a constitutional office and is controlled by the constitution of the Netherlands. A distinction is made between members of the royal family and members of the Royal House. The royal family is the Orange-Nassau family, however not every member is a...
, Prince of Orange-NassauHouse of Orange-NassauThe House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
, Jonkheer van Amsberg (since 1980)
When his mother Queen Beatrix became the queen regnant of the Netherlands, prince Willem-Alexander obtained the title "Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
" as new heir to the Dutch throne. He is formally styled as His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange.
He is the first male heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the Dutch throne
Monarchy of the Netherlands
The Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.-Constitutional role and position of the monarch:...
since Prince Alexander
Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem Alexander Charles Henry Frederick, Prince of Orange , , was heir apparent to his father King William III of the Netherlands from 11 June 1879 until his death.-Life:...
, son of King William III, who died in 1884. Prince Willem-Alexander has indicated that upon succeeding his mother, he would assume the throne under the regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
William IV. If he ascends the throne, he will be the Netherlands' first male monarch since 1890.
Military ranks
Conscription – Royal Netherlands Navy- EnsignEnsign (rank)Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
(August 1985 – January 1987) - Lieutenant (junior grade) (wachtofficier, 1988)
Royal Netherlands Navy – Reserve
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
(1988–1995) - Lieutenant CommanderLieutenant CommanderLieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
(1995–1997) - CommanderCommanderCommander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
(1997–2001) - Captain at SeaCaptain at SeaCaptain at Sea, is a naval rank corresponding to command of a ship-of-the-line or capital ship....
(2001–2005) - CommodoreCommodore (rank)Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
(since 27 April 2005)
Royal Netherlands Air Force – Reserve
- Squadron LeaderSquadron LeaderSquadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
(1995–2005) - Air CommodoreAir CommodoreAir commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(since 27 April 2005)
Royal Netherlands Army – Reserve
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, Grenadiers' and Huntsmen's Guard Regiment (1995–1997) - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
(1997–2001) - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
(2001–2005) - Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
(since 27 April 2005)
Royal Marechaussee – Reserve
- Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
(since 27 April 2005)
Honours
Dutch orders and decorations- Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (27 April 1985)
- Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (30 April 1980)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (27 April 1967)
- Queen Beatrix Investiture Medal (30 April 1980)
- Royal Wedding Medal 2002 (2 February 2002)
- Officer's cross for long service, with numberal XX (6 December 2006)
- Knight of the Order of Saint John in the Netherlands (8 June 1996)
Foreign orders : Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
(2006) : Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
Order of the Southern Cross
The National Order of the Southern Cross is a Brazilian order of chivalry founded by Emperor Pedro I on 1 December 1822. This order was intended to commemorate the independence of Brazil and the coronation of Pedro I...
: Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit of Chile
Order of the Merit of Chile
The Order of the Merit of Chile is a Chilean military decoration and was created in 1929. Succeeding the Medal of the Merit, it was created during the term of the President Germán Riesco through the Minister of War decree No. 1350 on September 4, 1906...
: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
: Grand Cross of the Federal Cross of Merit : Grand Cross of the Order of Mahaputera
Orders, decorations, and medals of Indonesia
Awards and decorations of the Republic of Indonesia are both military and civilian awards for service and personal contributions to the Republic of Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Constitution, Chapter III Article 15: "The President grants designations, awards, and other distinctions that...
: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
Order of the Chrysanthemum
is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded with collar , or with grand cordon...
: Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
Order of the Oak Crown
The Order of the Oak Crown is an Order of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.-History:The Order of the Oak Crown was instituted by the Grand Duke-King William II, in 1841...
: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau : Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1996) : Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic : Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (2006) : Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
Order of Chula Chom Klao
The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao was established in 16 November 1873 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam to commemorate the 90th Jubilee of the Chakri Dynasty, and bears his Name...
(2004) : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Liberator
Order of the Liberator
The Order of the Liberator is the highest distinction of Venezuela and is appointed for services to the country, outstading merit and benefits made to the community. For Venezuelans the order ranks first from other orders, national and foreign....
Ancestry
External links
- The Prince of Orange, biography on the official website of the Dutch Royal HouseDutch Royal HouseIn the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Monarchy is a constitutional office and is controlled by the constitution of the Netherlands. A distinction is made between members of the royal family and members of the Royal House. The royal family is the Orange-Nassau family, however not every member is a...