Princess Máxima of the Netherlands did not give 200,000 dollars to the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Cardinal Begoglio. The Dutch Government Information Service, which also serves as spokesman for the Royal Family, took the unusual step to officially deny that any such gift was made. Normally no statements about private matters of the Royal Family are made.
Argentinian weekly magazine Noticias on 29 April devoted its front page and a article to what it called "the truth behind Máxima’s visit to Argentina". The Princess visited her country of birth the previous week on an assignment for the United Nations.
Noticias claimed she also used her time to secretly give a donation to the archbishop, who is eeking funds to get his television station C21 on satellite. "His prayers were answered", the article stated. When the news was reported in Holland, the Government Information Service refused to comment, in line with its official policy. ‘We can neither confirm nor deny", a spokesperson told the Netherlands Press Association.
Palace sources though refuted the Argentinian claim; apart from the fact that the amount of the supposed gift constituted most of Princess Máxima’s yearly state allowance, it could also bring her in conflict with Argentinian President Cristina Fernández, cause diplomatic strains between The Netherlands and Argentina, and uproar or at least unease in Holland.
The writer of the article, María Fernanda Villosio, when asked about het anonymous sources, repeatedly affirmed their reliability. On Saturday she told the Netherlands Press Association once again that she stood by her story.
To fend off any negative outfall of the report, the Palace decided to formally deny the content of the article. There was no donation. The Princess does not even know the cardinal; they have never met.
© GPD Netherlands Press Association
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