THE INTERVIEW

With peacocks shouting in the background Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands and his fiancée Laurentien Brinkhorst gave an interview for the Dutch television in the garden of Palace Huis ten Bosch, the residence of Queen Beatrix. It was broadcasted on May 15th, 2001, two days before the civil wedding.

Preparations for the wedding:
The arrangements had to be made in a relative short time. It was difficult to find the right balance between the emotional and the practical aspects. We had to travel between Brussels and the Netherlands. There is a big difference between being together and the decision to choose for each other. The engagement caused emotional reactions by acquaintances and totally unknown people. The co-operation between the couple and their parents went wonderful with relation to the preparations. Sometimes you hear about troubles because both families have other ideas about the wedding. Probably the wedding will be very protocolair, but everybody has got the chance to give a lot of himself.

Church and family:
It is very important to us to let the marriage consecrate. It is a promise to a higher order. You can use support from above in your life. Laurentien said to take with her from home the fact that her parents have been married already for 40 years. The values she learned at home and finds very important are respect, loyalty, give the best of yourself and the gratitude for the chances in life you get. Constantijn said his parents stimulated them a lot to go their own way. For all his father has given him the space to do the things he wanted to do (professional). He saw Constantijn as an artist (he likes drawing) and had hoped his son would have gone in that direction. He must have been a bit disappointed when his son decided to study law. He appreciates his mothers involvement in things, her sense of duty, creativity, interest in people, her affection towards people (always be there for people). In his father he appreciates his style, independant thinking and his objectivity.

Study and profession:
Laurentien said her interest is to build bridges. In her work she does that by building bridges between companies and the various groups in society. In her freetime she has teached Dutch illiterates and she hopes to continue this work. Constantijn said that Laurentien likes helping people and is very interested in them. She is very interested in other people's problems. She'd like to go some more to the management side in her work. She has stayed in Brussels for nine years and that is longer than she lived on most other places. She will miss it a lot, but they want to make a new start in London. They are looking forward to London a lot and want to start a new life together there. They already have many friends there, both having a brother who lives there and several other family members.
Constantijn will become a business advisor, which is quite analytical work. He will advice by the making of important decisions and he thinks the work will be fascinating, because of the variation. It is an intellectual challenge to come to practical solutions by thorough analysis. He wrote his final work at university about help to refugees and also has been engaged with that subject in Brussels. The problems of the people sometimes are made less important that the problems in housing and handle them. The subject is too political for him to make it his daily work, but he wants to keep busy with it.

Being well-known:
Constantijn told the moving from Drakestein Castle to The Hague in 1981 meant that he was not anonymous anymore. He fell more and more looked at. You can't always shake off the fact of being a prince. Laurentien said people are reacting to you in a different way, and she wasn't prepared to that. Most likely you learn how to manage with that, but it will be a process that takes months, years and in fact always. Constantijn supports her a lot.

The future:
Constantijn said he doesn't know what the future will bring for him as a member of the royal family. If Willem-Alexander needs him and Prince Johan Friso he can always appeal to them. The filling in of the task depends on the circumstances Willem-Alexander will ascend the throne in, when that will be and what his needs are. Constantijn hasn't done a concrete offer. The current co-operation of Queen Beatrix with Princess Margriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven suits in the relation they have.

Children and parents:
Laurentien said she hopes to get three children. The discussion about the fact that their children don't become prince(sse)s doesn't concern them a lot as it is a more political discussion. They are not immediately involved. The most important is that the children get their own names: van Oranje-Nassau and Van Amsberg.
Years ago Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, the father of Laurentien, has pleaded for a smaller Royal House and a smaller political role of the Head of State. Laurentien said he says that already for 30 years and never changed his mind. But both her parents stand fully behind her. She has a good relation with her parents. In a democracy everybody is allowed to have his own opinion.

Willem-Alexander and Máxima:
It is self-evident that Willem-Alexander and Máxima get lots of attention. It is a special situation as they will become the King and Queen and it are two very special people. Máxima and Laurentien can share the fact of being engaged to two brothers and the joy of becoming a part of this family and can support eachother. You feel supported by the warmth in the royal family. In Brussels Laurentien and Máxima have become very good friends. It is great to have the chance to share with the other couple. Constantijn said Willem-Alexander and Máxima didn't have an easy period. It is a big relief to see what an enthusiasm there is, because they deserve it. They have talked about it with the couple in this difficult period.
Now it is clear the consent will be given to the marriage of Willem-Alexander and Máxima. Constantijn said it should be very strange if he as the number three in line of succession would ascend the throne. Constantijn said he doesn't share the opinion of many experts that that could happen.

The wedding:
The wedding days are, according to Constantijn, successful if Laurentien will say yes. And Laurentien says she won't say no. They are looking forward to the wedding very much and hope to celebrate it surrounded by many family members and friends. The music will be great and they are sure the service in church will be wonderful.