Posted by joris
on 2/10/2009, 9:57:10
83.163.27.83
http://www.dvhn.nl/nieuws/noorden/groningen/article5206402.ece/M%C3%A1xima+maakt+Molukse+wijk+gelukkig
Last Wednesday Princess Máxima visited (a.o.) Marum in the North of the country, where she attended the opening of a renovated Moluccan meeting center (for people with Moluccan roots).
When scrolling down and read some readers comments again (it has more or less become tradition that all articles to which readers can comment online cause these fierce discussions) about the costs about all these royal visits, one can come to the conclusion that the almost unanymous/widespread support for the monarchy really has really come to standstill.
I cannot keep pace reading all the articles about the monarchy in all media, ranging from right to left or none wing... Or hearing average colleagues speak about "my hobby: those Oranges"...
I guess the Queen receives all these articles on her desk...
Yesterday the (to us) old news that the apanage to the Spanish King has been frozen by the king himself was republished in broadsheet NRC Handelsblad. Clearly published as a sneer...
At this moment there is negative wind blowing around the monarchy, but I am sure it will be worked on perhaps by some charm offensive or some symbolic gestures. Is ignoring this negativism perhaps better? No, I think one should learn a lesson from unfortunate timing and lacking this feeling with developments in society. The unfortunate combination of 1. Christina's tax fuss 2. The lawsuit against AP 3. The increase of the civil list 4. The Mozambique holiday fuss, 5. The still very high costs of the Royal Yacht De Groene Draeck resulted in this imo predictable negativism.
The most critical article I read in (moderately right wing) Elseviers Magazine, accusing Prince of Orange of wanting to be a normal guy while being a crownprince, a very special job which goes with specific advantages which the prince gladly embraces but also with specific disadvantages which he refuses to learn to accept.
Also the postactivity ("extinguishing" fires instead of "fireprevention") is not seen as smart.
Time for action.
For otherwise goodwill will turn into badwill in these weird times in which people draw their conclusions withing the flash of a second.
Also one doesn't want to read the Yellow Press rags (mostly in adoration of the royals) which for the time being has turned against the big royal spenders. Some of them starting with the words from the Speech from the Throne in which efforts/sacrifices/contributions are asked from ALL Dutchmen in times of financial crisis...
In the history of Beatrix's reign I think there have been three "lows" and two "highs":
- The early eighties when Beatrix was seen as arrogant and aloof (followed by her first interview as a charm offensive)
- The holidays in Haider's Austria
- Mabelgate
- For the Queen herself the posthumous confessions of her father
- Autumn 2009.
The three highs were:
Prince of Orange's wedding
The enormous support received when Prince Claus died
The enormous support the RF received after the attack on Queen's Day 2009.
It will pass, the monarchy will remain: Je Maintiendrai, but the Dutch Court really should do something symbolic. Small gestures, great effects...
And show modesty, the greatest quality of true princes...
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