Maxima reacts angrily to pregnancy claim

20 December 2004

AMSTERDAM — Princess Maxima and her husband, Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, have reacted angrily to a newspaper claim that she is pregnant with their second child. The couple has cancelled media interviews planned for later this week.

Newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Sunday that Maxima was pregnant again and due to give birth next summer. The Government information Service (RVD) has refused to confirm the report.

The child will be third in line to the Dutch throne, after Prince Willem-Alexander. His and Maxima’s first child, Princess Amalia, was born in The Hague on 7 December 2003.

Besides the pregnancy of Princess Maxima, the royal family is also awaiting the first child of Prince Johan Friso and Princess Mabel, due next spring. The two births next year will bring the number of Queen Beatrix’s grandchildren to five.

Sources told newspaper De Volkskrant that the births will be a welcome relief to the royal family, which has had to cope with three deaths in the past two years. Beatrix’s husband Prince Claus died in October 2002, while her parents Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard died in March and December this year respectively.

Meanwhile, the Telegraaf claimed royal sources have confirmed Maxima’s pregnancy, but the reports have not been officially verified. The Argentinean-born Maxima is reportedly still in her early stages of pregnancy.

It is being speculated that the pregnancy has not yet reached the critical stage of three months. This would explain why the RVD has refused to confirm the report.

Besides telling family and close friends, expecting parents often announce they are pregnant when they are at least three months into the pregnancy. They are then passed the most dangerous period in terms of miscarriage.

Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima have reacted angrily to Sunday’s report, cancelling a meeting with journalists set for Tuesday. The royal couple is angry at De Telegraaf and is not prepared to answer questions about the alleged pregnancy.

Willem-Alexander and Maxima were scheduled to meet with members of the royal family reporters association. The couple announced they were pregnant with their first child during a similar meeting last year.

Media reports about Maxima’s pregnancy are highly sensitive; due to the fact her first pregnancy was difficult, forcing her to spend weeks on end in bed. The royal family is also in mourning for the death of Prince Bernhard, newspaper Algemeen Dagblad noted on Monday.

Subject: Dutch news