Dutch King Apologizes For Greece Holiday Despite Pandemic
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Dutch King Willem-Alexander apologized Wednesday for going on holiday to Greece while his nation was in a half-lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He made the admission Wednesday in a video message together with Queen Máxima.
The royal couple returned from Greece Saturday, a day after the trip caused an uproar in the Netherlands with the prime minister under pressure to explain himself in Parliament.
It was the latest in a series of scandals rocking the royals who were also forced to apologize for not keeping social distancing rules during an August trip to Greece.
“With regret in my heart, I address you. Our trip to Greece has provoked strong reactions from many Dutch people. It hurts to have betrayed your trust in us,” the king said.
“VERY UNWISE“
“Even though the journey was in line with regulations, it was very unwise not to take into account the impact of the new restrictions on our society.”
The king added: “Our own decision to return was made with the realization that we should not have gone.”
He stressed his family was reaching out to those suffering from the coronavirus that authorities say claimed 6,600 lives in the Netherlands.
However, the king cautioned: “We are involved, but not infallible.”
His words struck a chord with the Dutch Reformed Political Party (SGP), which strongly supports the monarchy.
GOOD MOTTO
“After Prime Minister [Mark] Rutte’s accountability letter, now a clear personal message from our King: involved, but not infallible,” wrote SGP leader Kees van der Staaij on Twitter. “Good motto in these difficult times, ” he added on the social networking site.
However, Dutch media questioned the king’s sincerity following revelations that his teenage daughters Princess Amalia en Alexia only returned Tuesday.
The Netherlands’ largest daily De Telegraaf (The Telegraph) complained that the 53-year-old king “lacks a social antenna.”
Dutch government information service RVD claimed there were ”not enough tickets” available for the whole family to return on regular flights. But commentators noted numerous flights were available since Saturday.
The royals flew back on a commercial plane amid public criticism over the involvement of a government aircraft in Greece
“UNNECESSARY TRAVEL”
Their vacation in Greece also came while back home, people were advised to avoid ”unnecessary travel” and work from home if possible.
Last week, bars, restaurants, and cannabis “coffee shops” were ordered to close for four weeks, and there were warnings of a possible full lockdown if people don’t follow the rules.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he “made the wrong assessment” by not urging the king to cancel his vacation.
Rutte wrote Parliament he “realized too late” that the holiday “could no longer be reconciled with the increasing infections and the stricter measures.”
The Ministry of General Affairs, headed by the prime minister, is responsible for what the monarchy says and does.
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