Princess Catharina-Amalia is reading politics and economics at the University of Amsterdam
(Picture: ANP/AFP via Getty Images)Princess Catharina-Amalia, 18, the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, started studying at the University of Amsterdam last month and moved into a rented apartment with other students in the capital city.
However, due to rising concerns about the princess’s safety, her parents, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander, have made her move back to Huis ten Bosch royal palace in The Hague.
“She can hardly leave the house,” said the Queen, reported by Dutch news agency ANP.
Here’s a closer look at who Princess Catharina-Amalia is and why she’s been forced to move.
Who is Princess Catharina-Amalia?
Currently studying politics and economics at the University of Amsterdam, the Princess of Orange is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne. She also has two younger sisters, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.
Despite her young age, Princess Catharina-Amalia has been active in the public eye, attending her first royal engagement outside the Netherlands in June.
Next year, she will embark on a tour of the Dutch Caribbean with her parents, visiting Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. It will be her first royal tour.
What is Princess Catharina-Amalia’s formal title?
Her formal title of the Princess of Orange is a title originally associated with the sovereign Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France and subsequently held by the Dutch monarchy. It is tied closely to the Dutch royal dynasty, known as the House of Orange-Nassau.
What security threats is Princess Catharina-Amalia facing?
Over the last month, several Dutch media outlets reported that the Princess of Orange was under heightened security due to concerns that criminal gangs could target her for kidnapping or other attacks.
While the Dutch police and government are not making details about the threats public, it’s believed that the risks have grown over the last month, prompting the move back to the increased safety of the police.
