With Amsterdam decked out in the vibrant orange, visitors to the city could be mistaken that an important football match is due to take place. But it is something even more important – the wedding of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta on February 2.
To celebrate the impending nuptials, the happy couple are to take part in an hour-long live web chat on the Dutch royal website this Friday. They have already taken part in a TV special, where they were interviewed by journalist Paul Witteman. Vetted by Queen Beatrix and Dutch premier Wim Kok, the interview included questions to Maxima about her father’s role in the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina in the Seventies and Eighties. “Why would he lie to me,” queries Maxima when asked about her father’s denial that he knew of the junta’s less-than-rosy human rights record.
Another royal heir who has been in the news recently is the heir to Japan’s chrysanthemum throne, Prince Naruhito. It has emerged that the 41-year-old, who became a father for the first time last month when his wife Princess Masako gave birth to their daughter Aiko, will be attending the House of Orange’s happy day next month. He will leave the land of the rising sun on January 30 and will fly to Europe to see his Dutch counterpart plight his troth to his Argentinian bride.
However, Princess Masako will not be by his side, but will stay in Tokyo looking after Princess Aiko, who will have just turned two months old.
