News Summary R O Y A L B L O G. N L

Queen Beatrix can't help laughing

,,This is serious, you can't laugh about it", Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands brother in law Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven admonished. But the Dutch queen couldn't help herself. This was too funny.

The queen watched from the steps of the ancient Knights Hall in the heart of The Hague, where the Dutch Prime Minister had just hosted a lunch for visiting President Abdullah Gül of Turkey, when a security man fell from the presidential car. To the delight of the onlookers. The man was unhurt. © DPP Patrick van Katwijk

Dutch royals buy holiday home in Greece

Dutch Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima bought a holiday home in Greece, Dutch media reported Monday. Earlier this year they sold their villa in Mozambique, which had come under severe criticism of the Dutch public and parlementarians.

According to media reports the crown princely couple were attracted to the Peleponnesos when they attended the wedding of Greek Prince Nikolaos and his Tatiana in the Summer of 2010 on nearby Spetses island. Their new property consists of three homes, with a private beach and private harbour.

The area is popular with an international crowd. Sean Connery and Russian President Vladimir Putin are said to have holiday homes there.

[the home in Doufi, in the Greek town of Kranidi]