The royal family of the Netherlands enjoys winter holidays in Austria

The royal family of the Netherlands were pictured on their annual winter holidays in Lech resort, Austria. Princess Amalia, 4, learned some lessons in skiing and enjoyed time spent with her sisters and cousins. Of Queen Beatrix‘s, 70, three sons, only Prince Friso, 39, his wife Princess Mabel, 39, and their daughters Emma Luana, 3 next month, and Joanna Zaria, 19 months, were absent.

Click below to see full-size photos!

Princess Amalia learns mini slalom encouraged by mom Crown Princess Maxima, 36.

From left: Leonore, 20 months, in the arms of mum Laurentien, 41, with dad Prince Constantijn, 38, in back row and sister Eloise, 5, in pink beside brother Claus, 4 next month. Crown Princess Maxima has her daughter Princess Ariane, 10 months, in her arms and daughters Princess Alexia, 2 ½, and Princess Amalia, 4, in front. Her husband Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, 39, stands beside his mother Queen Beatrix.

Source: Hello!

Thanks to CBB readers Veronique and Mary Beth.

Comments

Love the pics, Amalia is a cutie!

Btw it’s Luana

- Chanie on February 12th, 2008

How adorable! She must be quite the proud grandmother

- Harley on February 12th, 2008

Aww they are soooo cute.

Johan Friso’s girls are Emma Luana and Joanna Zaria but they go by Countess Luana and Countess Zaria

- Christine M on February 12th, 2008

Laurentien is a princess as well. Their children are count (Claus) and countess (Leonore and Eloise)

- Linda on February 12th, 2008

What always amazes me is that children of royalties and celebrities are free to take time off school outside school holidays, whereas “normal” parents would have the schools inspectorate on their back if they even think about doing the same…

Apart from that, the Dutch royal children are cute.

- Anya on February 13th, 2008

I don’t think Friso and his family get invited to these events because they are technically not part of the royal house anymore. Friso gave up his title of Prince of the Netherlands because he didn’t ask for Parliament permission when he married Mabel. So he is just Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau. Luana and Zaria are Countesses of Orange-Nassau just like Constatijn’s kids, but they don’t have the Jonkvrouw van Amsberg like Eloise or Leonore (Clausimir is a Jonkheer)

- Lynsey on February 13th, 2008

you’re right christine m, they go by the names luana and zaria.

oh and it’s claus-casimir, not just claus

- Philippa on February 13th, 2008

In Holland kids are learning obliged from age 5. One of the photographers made a comment about that during the shoot but Maxima said, Amalia is only 4. However, Eloise is 5 but she goed to school in Belgium. And with age 5, in Holland you can get special permission to take a holiday. So no worries yet for the school inspection.

- Leone on February 13th, 2008

Also a lot of the private schools get a lot more school holidays, for example here many of the private schools get 2 weeks in Oct, 3 weeks in Dec, 2 weeks in Feb, 3 weeks in April, 1-2 weeks late May or early June and then summer. So the kids have a lot more holiday than neighbourhood friends.

- Starlet on February 14th, 2008

Starlet, there are no real private schools for kids that age in the Netherlands. Amalia goes to a public school and so will her sisters.

Like someone else said: Amalia can still go on vacation when her parents want to take her. From age five she can no longer be taken on vacation outside the official school holidays and princess Maxima said during the interview that they will ‘of course’ stick to those rules.

Friso and Mabel are not in Lech right now so there was no way they could all pose together. Which I am sure they would have done had they been there.

- Linda on February 15th, 2008