It has been revealed that Princess Catharina-Amalia, the eldest daughter of Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander, was compelled to spend a year in Spain due to concerns of potential kidnapping.
At the age of 20, the future queen had to abruptly leave her university accommodation at the University of Amsterdam in 2022 and was placed under heightened security measures at her parents’ residence in The Hague.
According to reports from NOS news, Catharina-Amalia resided and pursued her studies in Madrid for over a year due to these threats, experiencing a greater sense of freedom in the Spanish capital. She has since returned to Amsterdam to resume her studies in politics, psychology, law, and economics.
During her first royal tour of the Dutch Caribbean in February of the previous year, the princess briefly mentioned the impact of these security concerns while accompanying her parents, the king and queen.
NOS news reported at the time that Catharina-Amalia said: “I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store.”
Annemarie de Kunder, Dutch royal journalist at RTL Boulevard, spoke to HELLO! about the ordeal that Catharina-Amalia has been through, saying: “It took an enormous toll on her and the whole family. And we know that she talks to her family, her father and her mother, but that she also has professional help when she needs it, when it becomes too much for her.”
Queen Maxima told Dutch news outlet AD at the time: “No student life for her, like other students have. I’m very proud of her and how she keeps it all going. It makes me a bit emotional. It’s not nice to see your child live like that. She can go to university, but that’s it.”
Maxima and King Willem-Alexander are also the proud parents of Princess Alexia, aged 18, and Princess Ariane, aged 17. Catharina-Amalia, destined to ascend the throne after her father King Willem-Alexander, made her inaugural appearance at a state banquet held by the Dutch monarchs for King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.
The princess was resplendent in a midnight blue gown adorned with a cape, complemented by the Ruby Peacock Parure and the Mellerio Ruby Parure earrings.
