This is how it goes with the training of the three princesses

Princess Amalia

Amalia lived and studied in Madrid for a year because of threats in the Netherlands. In the year she lived in Spain she was able to ‘find more freedom’ than was possible in the Netherlands. On King’s Day, the 20-year-old princess talked about her time in Spain for the first time. “I was able to find my freedom a little more there than was possible here,” Amalia said in Emmen on Saturday. The princess had ‘a fantastic time’ in Spain, despite the fact that the move took place ‘due to certain circumstances’. The time in Spain has made ‘life here somewhat possible again’, says Amalia. “I’m glad to be back.”

Queen Máxima said on Saturday that Amalia is an ‘independent girl and very smart’, ‘so she can handle it very well’. The queen granted her daughter ‘the freedom and wings that you must give a child to develop itself.’ However, there were ‘tears and a smile’ at every departure.

Princess Alexia

Princess Alexia has not yet decided which course she will follow. King Willem-Alexander is also ‘with anticipation’ awaiting his daughter’s choice of study. “We won’t know until she knows, so I leave it completely to our daughter,” Willem-Alexander said on King’s Day. ‘She has such broad interests that I am really waiting with anticipation to see what she ultimately chooses.’

“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to travel a lot, get to know other cultures, spend a year doing other things,” said 18-year-old Alexia, who is currently on a gap year. ‘Work a little, travel a little.’ The princess does not want to say what the highlight of her gap year was, because ‘in such a gap year every moment is special’. Her choice of study is also not yet known. “I’ll let you know when I know,” she said firmly.

Princess Ariane

Princess Ariane speaks Italian a little better. This is what the youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima said when asked about her studies at the United World College Adriatic in Italy. “It’s a very nice experience, for sure,” said 17-year-old Ariane. “I’m happy to be back, because I missed my parents,” said the princess. When asked about moments when she misses her parents the most, she said ‘every day a little, sure, it’s a distance.’

Her Italian for now is ‘così così’, she said laughing, which means so-so, ‘but I’m working on it’. One of her sisters chimed in by saying that things are “getting better every day.” And the princess agreed.