After starting school at the University of Amsterdam this fall, Princess Catharina-Amalia, the future queen of The Netherlands, has had to return home due to threats made against her.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands held a press conference on Thursday as they concluded their state visit to Sweden, during which they spoke about the difficulties their eldest daughter is facing and explained why she had to move back in with them at the Huis ten Bosch palace. “She is not out of the house,” the queen told the press, per the Dutch outlet AD. “You may have heard of certain news items or something. It has huge consequences for her life. Means she doesn’t live in Amsterdam and also that she can’t really go outside. Those consequences are very difficult for her. No student life for her, like other students have. I’m very proud of her and how she keeps it all going.” She added, “It makes me a bit emotional. It’s not nice to see your child live like that. She can go to university, but that’s it.” King Willem-Alexander noted that it’s been “really tough” for him as well as her father, but Maxima joked, “Maybe she can get very good grades now.”
Back in May, Catharina announced that she intended to live the life of a normal college student while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the university. The palace revealed on Instagram at the time that the princess would be seeking a degree in politics, psychology, law, and economics. The royal office also noted that her schooling is considered to be a private matter, but confirmed that she did go through the entire application and selection process and intended to live in Amsterdam with fellow members of her freshman class in the fall.
This isn’t the first time the princess has eschewed those privileges typically conferred upon a royal of her status. In December of last year, she revealed that she would not be accepting the $2 million annual allowance allotted to her until she takes on her official royal duties as queen. In a handwritten letter sent to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and published by NOS, Amalia expressed her discomfort with receiving that money without first giving back to her country, and while so many college students are in such serious debt. She wrote, “On 7 December 2021 I will be 18 and, according to the law, receive an allowance. I find that uncomfortable as long as I do not do anything for it in return, and while other students have a much tougher time of it, particularly in this period of coronavirus.” The royal went on to explain that she plans to repay the almost $400,000 she was entitled to during her time as a student and would not claim $1.6 million in expenses “until I incur high costs in my role as Princess of Orange.”
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