During last week’s power outage I frequently phoned ‘home’. During one of those conversations with relatives oversea, someone mentioned something about the troubled state of the Dutch monarchy: apparantly one of the sons of the queen was intending to marry a human rights activist. Which was basically OK, until the press found out that the woman (Mabel Wisse Smit) apparently had had an intimate relationship with a notorious Dutch gangster, something she had denied earlier before. Today prince Johan Friso announced that he’s giving up his succession rights so he can marry his controversial girlfriend, after the Dutch prime-minister said he was not going to ask the parliament for permission for another royal wedding.
This doesn’t sound fair, because everyone should be allowed to marry the person he or she loves, right? But there’s something unique and actually amazing about this Dutch law, concerning the marriages of royals: it’s about protecting both the monarchy and the democracy. Somewhere’s in 1850 (or around that year) the Dutch monarchy gave up their responsibility for the affairs of the government in trade for inviolability, meaning that prime-ministers are responsible for any wrongdoings of the royal house. Now compare this with the English situation where the English parliament has no say over what their royals are doing.
So in the Dutch situation both monarchy and democracy wins: the prince can marry his girlfriend and the Dutch democracy (and monarchy) cannot be held responsible for eventual future ‘misfortunes’ of the prince.
Note: I just noticed I actually had problems pronouncing the name of ‘Mabel’. Is it Maaaahbel, Maaaaaaaaaybell? In Dutch it still would sound like a silly name. I feel sorry already.
Friso was rumoured to be gay. One of the most mocked press releases was the one in which he officially renounced and refuted that he was gay.
One of the most mocked press releases was the one in which he officially renounced and refuted that he was gay.
Heh. I remember that was mentioned by you but I forgot about it. Also, if I remember correctly Friso was the smartest one of the set.