Argentina out, Mozambique in for Dutch CP

Dutch Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima will build a holiday home in Mozambique, the couple confirmed on Thursday. They join with friends from various European countries who want to build a holiday resort on the coast of the impoverished Southern African country.

,,Our choice shows our confidence in Mozambique and our commitment to Africa", the Prince said earlier. The President of Mozambique, who was informed of the royal couple’s plans in Sharm al-Sheikh on Monday, was pleased.

Willem-Alexander and Máxima have been looking around for a holiday home they could call their own for several years, the Prince confided. The Dutch Crown Prince co-owns with his brothers Friso and Constantijn the Dutch royal holiday home in Tavarnelle, Tuscany, Italy, which is generally used by his mother Queen Beatrix. Alexander and Máxima were looking for a seaside home however.

The ‘Happy Elephant’, the villa his grandfather built in Italian Porto Ercole, was no option. It was run down, and more importantly, provided little or no privacy. Journalists and paparazzi are less likely to show up on the coast of Mozambique, where a secluded resort, with a luxury hotel and houses are to build. But the royal couple want local people to benefit from the project.

It has to bring jobs, and schools will be constructed, electricity brought to four villages and Máxima sees a future role for her daughters in the community. She said a holiday home in her native Argentina was no option. The Princess felt no longer safe in Argentina, where they were regular victims of dangerous, agressive hot pursuits by photographers and tv crews.

The princesses were petrified, when paparazzi threw themselves on their car, knocked on the windows and even climbed the roof of a neighbouring building to get a peek at the inner court of the place the Dutch royals were staying. © GPD Netherlands Press Association; Photos by © GPD David van Dam; AP