Just a week after Princess Maxima of the Netherlands revealed she is pregnant with her first child, the Dutch royal family has another happy occasion to celebrate.The palace has announced Queen Beatrix's second son, Prince Johan Friso, is engaged to his girlfriend of three years, human rights advocate Mabel Wisse Smit. The couple plans to tie the knot in spring of next year.
Thirty-four-year-old Johan was introduced to the political science graduate by his sister-in-law, and Mabel's close friend, Princess Laurentien at a party in 2000. The pair – who both took part in Laurentien's wedding to Prince Johan's younger brother, Prince Constantijn, in 2001 – have maintained a low profile since embarking on their long-distance romance, coinciding in the Hague, Brussels and London.
Not only does Mabel have an excellent relationship with the Dutch royal family, she is also well-respected in her profession. The 34-year-old blonde has served as the director of the Open Society Institute, a Brussels organisation which promotes democracy and human rights, since 1997.
The prince, who studied mechanical and aerospace engineering in the US, and later economics in Rotterdam, left his job with London investment bankers Goldman, Sachs & Co last month.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
