Princess Amalia, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander cheer on the Netherlands crew on the Winter Olympics
The Dutch royal family were all smiles as they paid a visit to the Netherlands team competing at this year’s Winter Olympics.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, alongside their eldest daughter Princess Amalia, beamed for the cameras as they checked in on the Dutch delegation.
Some 2,900 athletes from more than 90 nations are set to compete over the next 16 days in venues across northern Italy.
Among them are 20 men and 19 women competing for the Netherlands in bobsleigh, ice dance (pairs), skeleton, snowboarding, speed skating and short track.
The delegation includes speed skater Jutta Leerdam, who is a medal favourite in the 1,000m and 500m races, which will take place in Milan.
A former world sprint champion, Leerdam – who is engaged to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul – previously won a silver medal in the 1,000m at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
However she has already managed to court controversy after being branded a ‘prima donna’ and ‘diva’ following her decision to fly to the Winter Olympics on a private jet.
The royals, dressed casually in sweatshirts, baseball jackets and jeans, arrived at the team’s accommodation in Milan on Saturday morning.
The Dutch royal family were all smiles as they paid a visit to the Netherlands team competing at this year’s Winter Olympics
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, alongside their eldest daughter Princess Amalia, beamed for the cameras as they checked in on the Dutch delegation
Princess Amalia, 22, the heir to the Dutch throne, with her father, King Willem-Alexander
Princess Amalia, 22, the heir to the Dutch throne, wore large gold hoop earrings and looked relaxed as she walked between her smiling parents.
Her latest appearance comes amid a growing confidence for the future Queen, who was shielded from the public eye for years by her concerned family after becoming the victim of cruel body shaming on social media.
In 2024, she also endured personal threats to her safety and briefly moved to Madrid, Spain, after being threatened with kidnap by organised Dutch crime gangs.
Now as a young woman, the Princess of Orange seems far more at ease with her growing royal role.
The royal family’s team-boosting visit came just hours after they eagerly watched the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday night.
Wrapped up warm in orange scarves and puffer jackets, the royals enthusiastically clapped as the Netherlands delegation took their places at the parade.
Amalia’s appearance at the Games comes just weeks after completing her basic military training and earning the rank of Corporal.
Her delighted mother Queen Maxima watched on proudly at the ceremony at the Ministry of Defence in Ermelo, Netherlands, and at one point seemed to hold back tears as she sat alongside other military mothers.
Princess Amalia wore large gold hoop earrings and looked relaxed as she walked between her smiling parents
Queen Maxima is pictured. She later watched on proudly at the ceremony at the Ministry of Defence in Ermelo, Netherlands
The royals enthusiastically clapped as the Netherlands delegation took their places at the parade
The royals, dressed casually in sweatshirts, baseball jackets and jeans, arrived at the team’s accommodation in Milan on Saturday morning
The royal family’s team-boosting visit came just hours after they eagerly watched the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday night
Wrapped up warm in orange scarves and puffer jackets, the royals enthusiastically clapped as the Netherlands delegation took their places at the parade
The delighted Queen emotionally embraced her daughter, who will now wear military uniform when she carries out duties.
Amalia, a student at the Dutch defence headquarters, has two younger siblings, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.
The princess has previously completed exercises with the Royal Navy, Air Force and Army, including flying a fighter jet and going behind the controls of a submarine as she was introduced to life in each branch of the Dutch armed forces in 2022.
The future Queen visited Volkel airbase, where she ‘got acquainted’ with life in the Dutch Royal Air Force. She got behind the controls of an F-16 and took part in a training flight, as well as speaking to staff at the base.
The Royal entered a range of military vehicles, also going for a ride in a Leopard combat tank.
During her introduction to the Royal Navy, Amalia went aboard the submarine Zr.Ms. Sea Lion.
The Princess chatted with submariners before being given a tour and explanation about life underwater. She also controlled the submarine under supervision and allowed it to resurface.
Amalia is not the only royal with military training. Earlier this week it was revealed that Queen Maxima is becoming a reservist in the Dutch army ‘as our safety can no longer be taken for granted’.
Amalia’s appearance at the Games comes just weeks after completing her basic military training and earning the rank of Corporal
Dutch Queen Maxima fought back tears as she watched her daughter Princess Amalia complete her military training last month
The Royal House shared photos of Maxima, 54, taking aim during shooting practice, climbing a wall, and jumping into a pool during a ‘mental skills’ training course in Breda on Wednesday.
The Argentinian-born royal’s decision to take on this new role comes as the Dutch military seeks to boost enlistment amid geopolitical turmoil and Russia‘s war in Ukraine on Europe’s eastern edge.
In a statement, the Dutch Ministry of Defence said: ‘Because the security of the Netherlands can no longer be taken for granted, Maxima has decided to become a reservist.’
The Royal House added that the queen, ‘like many others, wants to make a contribution to that security’.
The statement continued: ‘Reservists play a crucial role in supporting the military. Now Queen Máxima has the rank of soldier. Upon completing her education, she will be awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel.’
