Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, the 21-year-old heir to the throne, has officially begun her military training, becoming the first woman in her royal family to join the armed forces. She has been enrolled at the military college and appointed as a reservist of the Dutch Armed Forces, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to NOS.
The Princess of Orange will take part in theoretical courses and specialized training sessions within the framework of the program and will also serve as an intern at the Administrative Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. This internship is unpaid. By royal decree, she was also given the status of reservist and now holds the rank of third-class sailor in the Royal Navy, as well as third-class soldier in both the army and the air force.
Normally, military education begins with several weeks of basic combat training, including shooting practice, navigation, and obstacle courses. However, this stage has been postponed for Amalia due to an injury: in June, she fractured her arm after falling from a horse. Therefore, she will begin with theoretical studies.
The college administration expressed pride in welcoming the crown princess, noting that after the announcement of her enrollment, applications to the institution reached a peak. Like all other cadets, Amalia had to undergo medical and psychological examinations, as well as a security clearance.
Since September 2022, Catharina-Amalia has been studying Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam. This year, she also began a bachelor’s program in Dutch law.
Military historian Ben Schoenmaker of the Netherlands Institute of Military History said that the likelihood of the princess ever participating in an armed conflict is extremely small. In earlier centuries, monarchs were also commanders-in-chief, but this practice ended after the 1848 constitutional reform. During World War II, Prince Bernhard was appointed commander by Queen Wilhelmina, though this was more symbolic than practical.
King Willem-Alexander, her father, completed military service in his youth, as was customary for men of his generation. However, upon becoming king, he relinquished his rank.
Earlier we wrote that Netherlands opposes fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU accession and rejects qualified majority voting.
