Big party in Huis ten Bosch: Princess Amalia turned 17 today, her last birthday as a minor. What will change for her when she turns 18? What rights and obligations will she then have? “The most important thing is that from then on she automatically becomes queen when her father dies,” says Royal House reporter Sander Paulus.
It is still the case that Queen Máxima would become regent. She would then rule on behalf of Amalia until December 7, 2021, as Queen Emma did after the death of William III for Queen Wilhelmina, who was still a minor in 1890.
Member of the Council of State
Amalia also becomes a member of the Council of State, the most important advisory body to the government, from her 18th birthday. The king is its chairman, and Queen Máxima is also a member.
“You should not think that this is a heavy task in terms of content,” says Paulus. “They don’t have to go to the meetings, and the king is hardly ever there. His role as chairman is mainly a symbolic one, the vice-chairman is the actual chairman.” Members of the Royal House are also only allowed to join a meeting, they are not allowed to vote.
1.5 million euros
There is a lot of discussion and outrage about this: as soon as Amalia is 18, she is automatically entitled to about 1.5 million euros per year. About 250,000 euros of this is salary, the rest is intended for building up your own royal household. “An interesting question is what’s going to happen with that money,” says Paul.
“In Belgium, King Filip has decided that his daughter Elisabeth, who is already 18, will not receive an allowance for the time being, because she is still studying and not performing any royal duties. My suspicion is that this will not happen in the Netherlands, but I am curious.”
Princess Amalia will probably also do little work in the coming years that suits her position. After obtaining her gymnasium diploma, she planned to travel for a year, although all plans are now in jeopardy due to corona.
Public duties?
“I am very curious what her agenda will look like,” says Paulus. Amalia can decide for herself whether she will make visits, cut ribbons and the like. “That is no different than for the king, who has only one duty: to sign laws.”
Until now, Amalia has been kept out of publicity by her parents as much as possible. There are two photo opportunities per year, one before the summer holidays and one before the winter sports in Lech, and on King’s Day the Crown Princess and her sisters are there.
“I think it was inspired by her father, who struggled with his privacy and the fact that he would be king,” says Paul. “But my guess is that Amalia doesn’t have that struggle, she doesn’t seem to have any qualms about ever becoming queen. She has also said herself that she’s fine with it, and that she has ‘quite a nice life’.”
“There is a good chance that Amalia will be asked for all kinds of things after her 18th birthday. But whether she will do that will also depend on corona. Because the first time she launches a ship or cuts a ribbon, that of course for a huge run-up. ”
Also check out: Princess Amalia doesn’t want to show a show version of herself
