Beatrix turned 82 on Friday and renounced the throne almost seven years ago. The princess still appears regularly in public, unlike the Belgian former King Albert. To what extent can former princes live the life they want?
“Princess Beatrix is still very involved, but mainly does the things she likes. She was recently at the Holland Dance Festival, because she is a huge ballet fan. Then you see her enthusiastically approaching the dancers,” says royal house connoisseur and Blue bloodpresenter Jeroen Snel.
“It is certainly not pathetic that she occasionally still has her duties, because she can choose the things that she herself wants,” assures Snel. “She still regularly attends meetings on Monday mornings where the agenda and invitations to events are discussed. She is also not someone to be at home most of the time and it seems that she is still having a good time on most visits “
The Belgian royal family reporter from The newspapaer Wim Dehandschutter says that in Belgium admiration is being looked at at the work that Princess Beatrix is still doing. “She is still available and had a supporting role behind King Willem-Alexander in the period after the throne change,” he says. Dehandschutter thinks it’s nice to see how the princess still attends cultural events and seems to enjoy it.
Beatrix 82 years
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A world of difference with the Belgian royal family
Dehandschutter calls the role of Princess Beatrix a world of difference with how former King Albert took up his position after his son Filip took over the throne. Filip became king on July 21, 2013, about three months after Willem-Alexander was inaugurated.
“Where Princess Beatrix was and is right there for her son, Albert and his wife Paola immediately disappeared from public life. King Filip can no longer count on his father and mother at all”, he outlines the situation in the Belgian royal family.
“No one assumed that they would work a lot or take a prominent place. Albert was just under eighty at the change of the throne. Yet you would think they would show their face during our national holiday, if only to support their son. One day a year shouldn’t be too much trouble, but he never appeared there, “said the reporter of The newspapaer.
According to the Belgian royalty watcher, the bond between father and son is not too good and the former king works against his successor on a professional level. For example, in 2016 it was revealed that Albert was not satisfied with his pension of 900,000 euros per year. He also admitted this week that he is indeed the biological father of Delphine Boël, who has been claiming to be the daughter of the former king for years.
“King Filip can no longer count on his father and mother.”
Wim Dehandschutter, royal family reporter in Belgium
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“The royal family is suffering damage from such a scandal”
Dehandschutter states that a former frost can still do a lot of damage to the royal family if such a scandal occurs. “This is absolutely harmful to the image of the royal family. The former king simply does not recognize his own flesh and blood. No one can go there. The palace has always dismissed it as a private situation, but you expect a certain amount of royal residence morality.”
“Citizens are looking more and more negatively at the royal family, which of course damages Filip. The eyes are now focused on how he deals with a half-sister he suddenly got.”
Blue blood-presentator Snel expects that the influence that this has on the Belgian royal family will not be too bad. “That Delphine Alberts daughter was actually a public secret for years. It doesn’t matter how well Filip does his job. That family is completely loose, so he is not necessarily looked at his father’s actions.”
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King Filip and his father Albert at the throne change in 2013. (Photo: BrunoPress)
“Nothing stops Beatrix from having a new lover”
Dehandschutter states that Albert and his wife hardly get any publicity next to the scandal and are given every opportunity to live a reclusive life. “They really take advantage of the time they have together and spend a lot of time abroad. Every now and then a paparazzi photo of a holiday in Italy appears, but otherwise they live out of sight of the camera.”
The Belgian royal family reporter thinks Beatrix makes other choices here, partly because she is a widow. “As a couple, you can enjoy your old age together, but she is on her own and perhaps therefore needs more to stay busy and have people around her.”
Snel does not believe that Beatrix is very limited in her actions in public. “Of course people recognize her, but she also drives a car without blinded windows for example. She has of course been used to that attention all her life.”
He thinks that there would be room for a new love in her life, should the princess need it. “She definitely has the opportunity for dates and there might just be someone she has feelings for. It’s hard to estimate, especially since she’s on the road so much. Prince Claus was really the love of her life, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is another man in her life. “
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