Princess Catharina-Amalia, the 18-year-old heir to the Dutch throne, dazzled all in attendance with her beauty. She was there for the yearly Prinsjesdag celebration in The Hague. At only 21 years old, Lizzie enthralled the crowd as she emerged from the Glass Coach. Her regal parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, stood behind her, beaming with pride. The royal family put on a splendid demonstration of togetherness that touched the spirit of the day.
The Princess was draped in a mesmerizing cream hued gown which highlighted her soft grace. She finished her outfit with a gigantic hat and waved charmingly to the admiring crowds. Her wardrobe wasn’t simply meant to emphasize her elevated position but her forward-looking role in the royal family. Critics described her as being like a stateswoman, representing a new generation of royal service.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima very elegantly descended from the carriage. Princess Catharina-Amalia closely behind, and that made for an impressive moment of unity that really struck a chord with the Dutch public. Her younger sisters, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, travelled in another carriage. Their presence only contributed to the family’s royal effect on this valuable national event.
Following their carriage procession, the royal family then moved on to the balcony of Palace Noordeinde to greet the gathered crowds. Princess Catharina-Amalia beamed between her parents and sister. Among her relatives were her sisters and her brother-in-law, Prince Constantijn, and his wife, Princess Laurentien. Jointly, they offered arm-waving, spirited hello’s and inviting gestures with their arms that made you feel like the Dutch leaders were engaged with the Dutch public.
The Prinsjesdag ceremony opens the parliamentary year in the Netherlands and is full of pageantry and tradition. This year’s ceremony featured Princess Catharina-Amalia as the leading character. She became more than just a participant, but rather at the cusp of becoming a leader of a new monarchy. To him, her presence would have emphasized the royal family’s long celebrated continuity of commitment to life-long public service.
