Marriage and Children
On 30 June 2003, it was announced that Prince Friso was to marry Mabel Wisse Smit. The Dutch cabinet, however, did not seek the permission of parliament for this marriage; constitutionally necessary if Prince Friso was to remain a member of the Dutch Royal House and in line of the hereditary succession for the throne (he had been second in this line of succession, after his older brother, Crown Prince Willem Alexander).
The Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende explained that this was due to discussions with Mabel Wisse Smit in October 2003 where she had admitted that her previous statements about an alleged relationship with Klaas Bruinsma (1953–1991), known as a Godfather of the Dutch drug trade, had not been complete and accurate. She had previously stated that she had contact for a few months with Bruinsma, but in a casual context, not intimate or relating to business and that she had broken the contact on learning of Bruinsma's occupation.
This "breach of trust" was the reason the government did not seek parliament's permission, respecting the wishes of the couple. They nevertheless married in Delft on 24 April 2004, and Mabel Wisse Smit became a member of the Dutch Royal Family but not a member of the Dutch Royal House.
Considering that his elder brother, Prince Willem-Alexander is heir apparent to the Dutch throne, and has three children, Prince Friso's exclusion from the succession is unlikely to have an effect on the monarchy in the Netherlands.
Prince Friso and his wife Princess Mabel have two daughters:
- Countess Emma Luana Ninette Sophie, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (born 26 March 2005 in London)
- Countess Joanna Zaria Nicoline Milou, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (born 18 June 2006 in London)
Read more about this topic: Prince Friso Of Orange-Nassau
Famous quotes containing the words marriage and/or children:
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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—Saf Lerman (20th century)