A new Dutch heir expected
)
June
18th, 2003
- Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess
Máxima are expecting their first child for January 2004.
The announcement came this afternoon at a press meeting in The Hague, where the couple was scheduled to meet journalist. Princess Máxima is just over eleven weeks pregnant.
The baby, who will be second in line to the throne, is expecting mid January next year. According to the law which granted Willem-Alexander and Máxima their marriage, the baby will be named ' His/Her Royal Highness ... .Prince/Princess of the Netherlands, Prince/Princess of Orange-Nassau. The baby will have Dutch citizenship.
The couple talked openly to the journalists. The Prince said he was very excited when Máxima told him the news; the Princess said she is now feeling well, but had experienced a period of morning sickness, dizziness and fatigue. The couple is thrilled with having a child, Máxima will take the usual maternity leave (four weeks before, ten weeks after) and will continue working.
The news came only an hour after Business News Radio announced it had received an email written by Máxima in which she announced her pregnancy to friends and family.
More:
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NOS Nieuws (in Dutch)
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Hear Willem-Alexander and Máxima making the announcement (at NOS Nieuws)
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The e-mail (at Business Nieuws Radio)