The royal family is deeply touched by the death of the son of one of King Willem-Alexander’s best friends. In an obituary in NRC the family reflects on the loss of Jan de Beaufort, who recently passed away at the age of 19. “The atmosphere will never be the same without you.”
Jan de Beaufort is the son of Frans de Beaufort, with whom the king has been friends for years. De Beaufort is the godfather of Princess Alexia and was one of Willem-Alexander’s witnesses when he married Máxima in 2002. His mother, Cornélie Sickinghe, was the governess of Princess Beatrix at Soestdijk Palace. Conversely, Willem-Alexander was master of ceremonies at the wedding of De Beaufort and his wife Suzanne in 1997.
De Beaufort’s son passed away last Monday. ‘Without you, the atmosphere will never be the same. We are going to miss you so incredibly. Our hearts go out to your sweet, warm, happy family. Know that we will always be there for them”, reads the advertisement, which is signed by ‘Alexander’, Máxima, Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.
To give evidence
Under the advertisement are also the names of, among others, Marc ter Haar and Tijo baron Collot d’Escury, the other witnesses at the wedding of Willem-Alexander and Máxima.
Jan de Beaufort was a first-year student of veterinary medicine at Utrecht University. A register of condolence has been opened in the hall of the faculty building. The university is ‘deeply touched’ by the death, the website states. ‘Jan got to know many of you in the short time he studied at our faculty. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”
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