The Benelux Royals Message Board: Re: Monarchy in trouble?

Yep. Not surprising but dark clouds are appearing above Noordeinde Palace. The King is for the most part a decent enough chap and he obviously tries his best in what is probably the most unusual, awkward and uncomfortable inherited profession on earth but he somehow lacks the flair or royal charisma of his great grandmother, grandfather, mother and probably, his eldest daughter He might be popular among sports fans and athletes when he publicly performs his spontaneous antics but sadly for him most people have difficulty connecting to him especially after his gaffes in recent years, the growing unease about the financial arrangements of the family and the rising costs of the institution. Maxima might be made of teflon when ot comes to public scrutiny , he certainly is not.

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Today is Prinsjesdag. One of the two great days every year of the Dutch monarchy. Koningsdag being the other one.
This is the very formal and grand day with 200 horses, 4 carriages and members of the Royal House attending the King's Speech (in Dutch speech from the throne).

Normally this is one of the highlights of the Royal calendar but today the stands that are normally filled easily were almost empty. That is a serious problem. If people don't even want to attend this most glamorous event of the Dutch monarchy that also has political and constitutional significance.

It also became clear that not only trust in politics went down, but also in the King. Somehow the Dutch don't like their King or do they simply not like a man on the post of monarch? His daughter Amalia as well as his wife Maxima and mother Beatrix all have better reviews.
After more than 120 years of female monarchs the Dutch still have not embraced a man (or should i say the man) on the throne.

At this moment no political majority is in favour of ending the monarchy but in years to come the king might be forced to hand over the crown sooner than intended to let a popular woman (Amalia) take over from him. It makes me almost hope that the first child of the Princess of Orange and her future husband will be a girl.