Netherlands meet royal approval
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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The Netherlands had a royal audience for the win against Italy – with their future king, crown prince Willem-Alexander, "very enthusiastic" about the team.
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Royal approval
The future monarch, HRH the Prince of Oranje, sat alongside Dutch deputy prime minister Wouter Bos at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf for the side's Group C opener, wearing an orange tie. According to Royal Netherlands Football Association director of professional football, Henk Kesler, he enjoyed the game in Berne very much. "The Prince was very enthusiastic," Kesler told euro2008.com. "Just like all fans, he saw that we played an excellent match and really deserved this victory. He said he's planning to come back to the tournament."
'The People's Prince'
Willem-Alexander, who is expected to succeed Queen Beatrix in the near future, has always been interested in sport. The 41-year-old is a member of the International Olympic Committee and in his younger days sometimes forgot royal etiquette due to his passion for competition. At the 1996 Olympics, he ran on to the field of play to celebrate after the Dutch won the bronze medal in women's hockey, jumping for joy with the team. This spontaneous reaction helped earn him the nickname 'The People's Prince'.