Dutch royals can marry same-sex partners without giving up their claim to the throne, PM says
- Prime Minister Mark Rutte was responding to questions raised by new books
- Books argued that Dutch law prevented possibility of a same-sex royal marriage
- They focused on Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, 17, who has not commented
- Rutte said royals could marry same-sex partners without giving up claims to throne but it raised questions about succession if the couple had children
- Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001
A Dutch monarch can marry someone of the same sex without giving up their claim to the throne, the country’s prime minister said on Tuesday.
The comment came in response to questions raised by recently published books on Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, which argued that the country’s rules exclude the possibility of a same-sex royal couple.
The Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage in 2001, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a letter to parliament that attitudes had changed since his predecessor had last addressed the issue in 2000.
‘The government believes that the heir can also marry a person of the same sex,’ Prime Minister Rutte wrote in a letter to parliament.
‘The cabinet therefore does not see that an heir to the throne or the King should abdicate if he/she would like to marry a partner of the same sex.’
Prime Minister Mark Rutte was responding to questions raised by recently published books on Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (pictured), which argued that the country’s rules exclude the possibility of a same-sex royal couple [File photo]
Prime Minister Mark Rutte (pictured) said in a letter to parliament that attitudes had changed since his predecessor had last addressed the issue in 2000 [File photo]
Rutte said it was not clear how a same-sex marriage would affect later succession of the royal couple’s children, but added that it didn’t make sense to try and decide that now.
‘It’s just very dependent on the facts and circumstances of the specific case, as you can see by looking back at how family law can change over time,’ he wrote.
Amalia, 17, is the daughter of King Willem-Alexander and heir to the Dutch throne. She has not made any comments on the matter, and little is known of her personal life.
Earlier this year, she announced that she would not accept the €1.6m (£1.4m) annual allowance from the state when she turns 18, saying it would make her feel ‘uncomfortable’.
Unlike regular marriages, royal marriages need the approval of parliament in the Netherlands.
Members of the Dutch royal house have on occasion given up their place in the line of succession to marry someone without permission.
Amalia, 17, is the daughter of King Willem-Alexander (right) and heir to the Dutch throne. She has not made any comments on the matter, and little is known of her personal life
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