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Princess M xima: Her secret fear for little Amalia

Máxima lovingly puts her arm around her daughter. She knows what Amalia expects.
Photo: Getty Images

So many new duties are now coming to her daughter

Will the future crown princess cope with her new role?

April 30 will be the day that changed everything for the Dutch royal family. For Beatrix (75), who relinquishes the throne after 33 years, for Willem-Alexander (45) and Máxima (41), who become the new royal couple of Holland - and for Amalia (9), who becomes the youngest Princess of Orange Heir to the throne of the world.

Although Máxima would never say that out loud, she is tormented by a secret fear for her daughter : will she be able to cope with her new role?

However, getting to grips with Amalia's future responsibilities is the least of the problems. It will be much more difficult for the girl to cope with public pressure. As a crown princess, Amalia will be in the spotlight much more than before. What she says and does, how she is dressed, how her academic achievements develop - everything the people in the country - yes, worldwide - will follow very closely.

Her father Willem-Alexander also needed to know what that meant. "The change of the throne almost became a trauma for him, " Beatrix admitted once. His childhood was over in 1980. The family moved from the familiar Drakensteyn Castle to Huis ten Bosch Castle in The Hague. His mother had little time left for him.

"The happy prince has lost his laugh, " it was said. There was Willem at least 13, but Amalia is only 9. And Amalia's godmother, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (35), it was similar. Worse: Under the burden of succession she fell ill with anorexia. "I felt that I should take on responsibility and be a good girl. There were so many expectations that were put to me. I had huge fear of failure, "she later recalled.

Perhaps these painful experiences are also Amalia's chance. Because Maxima and Willem-Alexander will do anything to protect their daughter. They have decided not to move to The Hague for the time being and to continue living in their Villa Eikenhorst. So Amalia does not lose her usual environment, can stay at her school in Wassenaar, with her trusted classmates.

Very carefully, the parents want to prepare their daughter for life as Crown Princess. Princess Victoria will also be there to help and support her goddaughter. And then there is Queen Beatrix too. After her abdication, she has plenty of time to look after her granddaughter - and make sure that little Amalia never loses her sweet laugh ...

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