Dutch royals can marry a person of the same sex without sacrificing their position in the succession, the country’s prime minister has said.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte delivered the message in a letter to Parliament yesterday. His comments came in response to a recently published book about the crown princess Amalia, which claimed that the country’s rules could exclude the possibility of a same-sex marriage within the royal line.
In his letter to the Parliament, Rutte, noting that times have changed, said that “The government believes that the heir can also marry a person of the same sex,” adding, “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.”
Crown Princess Amalia, the 17-year-old daughter of the Dutch king Willem-Alexander, has not declared any romantic intentions publicly, and little is known about her personal life. Earlier this year, she announced that she wouldn’t accept the 1.6 million euro allowance she’d become entitled to on her 18th birthday, noting that it would make her “uncomfortable” the Guardian reports.
Despite the Prime Minister’s proclamation, the question of succession with regards to the heir apparent of a same-sex reunion remain unresolved. “It’s just very dependent on the facts and circumstances of the specific case, as you can see by looking back at how the family law can change over time,” Rutte said.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in the Netherlands in 2001. However, royals must obtain permission from Parliament to marry.
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