Dutch royals defended over satire
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Prince Friso has contributed to the royals' woes
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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The Dutch royal family has found itself at the center of a storm over whether it needs protecting against satire.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende leapt to the defense of the House of Orange last week protesting satirical programs had gone too far in targeting the royal family.
He said people may have trouble distinguishing fact from fiction.
But while he was supported by his justice minister, opposition politicians and the media have said the royal family need no protection against free speech.
Opposition parties planned to question Balkenende in parliament Tuesday. Readers' letters and editorials fill newspaper pages and television debates talk of little else.
The Dutch royal family's woes may not appear as bad as those currently experienced by their British cousins -- Prince Charles is at the center of swirling speculation over allegations made by a former servant.
But Queen Beatrix may be sharing the same sentiments expressed by the UK's Queen Elizabeth II's in 1992 when she lamented about her "Annus Horribilis," Reuters reported.
Queen Beatrix's second son, Prince Johan Friso, recently renounced his right to the throne so he could wed a woman who admitted not telling the whole truth about her previous relationship with a gangster.
Also this year, Queen Beatrix's niece, Princess Margarita, accused the royal family of vilifying her and her husband.
Before that in 2002, Crown Prince Willem Alexander made waves with his marriage to Argentine-born Maxima -- daughter of a junta-era minister.
Many say Balkenende's attack on media satire has served only to attract viewers to television shows like "Egoland," which feature puppets and award-winning "Kopspijkers," a subtle satire on the current affairs.
