In the family they call him Alexander not Alex. He himself stated that his name has always been Willem-Alexander and that it would feel wrong to be called just Willem or Willem IV. In earlier interviews he mentioned that he had options (Willem IV included), but he never stated what his name would be as king.
The options were:
Willem-Alexander
Willem IV Alexander
Willem IV
Alexander
He opted for the first as that has been his legal first name since birth.
Thanks for your response. I remember when Willem-Alexander said he would reign as Willem IV and then change his mind. Do you, or anyone know why he changed his mind? I had heard, not sure if it's true, that he is called Alex, short for Alexander, in the family and if that has anything to do with his change of mind?
With the current king's comment that Willem IV stands next to Bertha XII in the pasture i very much doubt we'll see another monarch with a numeral in the Netherlands.
He basically made it impossible for the Princess of Orange to name her firstborn Willem, Wilhelmina, Juliana, Beatrix, Willem-Alexander or Catherina-Amalia. As any of those names would require a numeral or regnal number.
Would one of his successors opt to call a firstborn son Willem he would have to be King Willem IV as the current king has been very clear he does not want that regnal number for himself.
What will another King Willem of the Netherlands call himself, assuming he just uses his first name only? Will he be Willem IV or possibly Willem V? I rather doubt he’d call himself Willem V but a Willem IV after a Willem-Alexander does seem odd.
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