Yahoo Finance Future Queen of the Netherlands Turns Down $2 Million Annual Allowance: 'I Find It Uncomfortable'
Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage Princess Catharina-Amalia
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, heir to the Dutch throne, is waiving her right to a hefty annual allowance.
The eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima sent a hand-written letter to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday, informing him of her decision to turn down her nearly $2 million allowance until she takes up royal duties.
"On 7 December 2021 I will be 18 and, according to the law, receive an allowance," Princess Amalia said in a letter published by Dutch public NOS. "I find that uncomfortable as long as I do not do anything for it in return, and while other students have a much tougher time of it, particularly in this period of coronavirus."
Amalia added that she intended to take a gap year before starting her undergraduate studies. She said she would repay the nearly $400,000 she was entitled to during her time as a student and would not claim $1.6 million in expenses "until I incur high costs in my role as Princess of Orange."
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Evert Elzinga / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by EVERT ELZINGA/ANP/AFP via Getty Dutch Royal Family
Princess Amalia passed her final exams at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet in The Hague last week, graduating cum laude.
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In keeping with Dutch tradition, she raised the country's flag along with her backpack in a video shared to the family's social media accounts.
"I just got a call with the news that I passed!" she said. "I want to congratulate all other graduates and wish other students good luck with any resits in the second period."
Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage King Willem-Alexander and Princess Catharina-Amalia
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On King's Day (the celebration of King Willem-Alexander's birthday in April) earlier this year, Princess Amalia shared her plans to take a gap year before continuing her education.
"I want to travel a little, discover the world, do things that I may not be able to do in twenty years' time," she said, according to Netherlands News Live.
