Princess Catharina-Amalia has been posted to a student training
job with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The Dutch Royal
House announced on Tuesday that the
future queen of the Netherlands will complete a work-study
programme with the air force through Defensity College, the next
step in her military training.
Princess Catharina-Amalia was photographed meeting with Air
Force officials to coincide with the announcement of her posting.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force commented on the social media post:
“Welkom 🧡✈️”
After completing her military training in January, the future
queen attained the rank of Corporal and remained attached to the
Defence Staff until this specialised posting.
At the time, the Dutch Royal House shared that Princess
Catharina-Amalia is still considered a student, and would remain a
private citizen while studying and training as a reservist.
Defensity College offers part-time training and postings to
university students, offering them a “versatile programme
focused on the pillars of work, personal development, and
study,” according to their official website.
Koninklijkhuis Instagram still/ fair use
The future queen is also studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Dutch
Law at the University of Amsterdam, having graduated last
summer with a Bachelor’s in Politics, Psychology, Law and
Economics.
Princess Catharina-Amalia is the first Dutch royal woman to
receive military training. Her mother, Queen Máxima, is the
second.
still/ fair use
In February, the Dutch Royal House announced that Queen Máxima was
training as a reservist in the Royal Netherlands Army—attaining
the rank of Private—because “our safety is no longer a given
and she, like many others, wishes to contribute to that
safety.”
After a year’s training, Queen Máxima will graduate with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel and will serve where needed.
Princess Beatrix attended university while still heir but did
not undergo formal military training. King Willem-Alexander trained
with the Royal Netherlands Navy and later served as a reservist
with all branches of the Dutch military.
Unlike other monarchies, the Dutch monarch is not head of the
armed forces and instead holds specialised ranks and positions
within all branches. The leader of the Dutch Armed Forces is the
government.
