Dutch crown princess could marry woman and be queen
October 12, 2021, 11:32 pm

Dutch crown princess could marry woman and be queen

Netherlands-Amsterdam-Royal palace/Pixabay

The BBC reported, same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001 but it has always been assumed that it could not apply to the crown as there would have to be an heir to the throne.

Now caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte has made clear any king or queen could also marry a person of the same sex.

The BBC said, their to the Dutch throne, Princess Amalia, turns 18 in December.

Mr Rutte said it was all about "theoretical situations" but the next queen could marry a woman.

He explained in a response to a written question in parliament from his own party: "Therefore the cabinet does not see that an heir to the throne or the king should abdicate if he or she would like to marry a partner of the same sex."

As King Willem-Alexander's eldest child, Princess Amalia's future has come under scrutiny, with one book over the summer raising the issue of what might happen if she chose to marry a same-sex partner.

According to the BBC, the book did not speculate over the princess's personal life, and there is no indication of any wedding in the pipeline. Amalia is expected to go to university next year and she has declined the royal income she is entitled to while she is a student.

The question prompted two MPs from Mr Rutte's own liberal VVD party to ask whether current restrictions on royal marriage met with the "norms and values of 2021".

Although the cabinet makes it clear that same-sex marriage is possible, what is not known is what would happen to the succession if there were children born from a same-sex royal marriage, for example via adoption or a sperm donor.

"It's frightfully complicated," Mr Rutte explained. The Dutch constitution states that the king or queen can only be succeeded by a "lawful descendant".

The prime minister said that it was purely theoretical at this stage but it would be up to parliament, which has to give approval to a royal marriage. He told Dutch TV: "Let's cross that bridge if we come to it."

Source: BBC

G20 leaders pledge to avert economic crisis in Afghanistan Former UK Health Secretary given United Nations role

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.