Princess of Orange promoted to sergeant

The Princess of Orange has been promoted to the rank of sergeant.

The promotion ceremony took place on 17 October on board the Statsraad Lehmkuhl in the harbour of Den Helder.

The Princess started at Defensity College last year, which has students working with the different branches of the Armed Forces. At the moment, Princess Amalia is working with the Royal Navy. This past week, she sailed with the midshipmen of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl. This is a Norwegian three-masted ship from 1914, which is used as a training ship for the navy.

The Princess previously held student internships with the Defence Staff and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Last month, she also completed an in-depth field-based General Military Training course.

According to the press release, “Defensity College aims to offer students a substantive part-time job alongside their studies and to increase the visibility of, and connection between, the armed forces and society. The program comprises various work placements, activities, events, and training courses, thereby contributing to the personal, professional, and military development of the student intern.”

There is a close bond between the armed forces and the Dutch Royal House. King Willem-Alexander fulfilled his military service with the Royal Netherlands Navy, and subsequently served in the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Princess Amalia’s mother, Queen Máxima, joined the  Royal Netherlands Army as a reservist. Queen Máxima wanted to join the reserves because she felt that national security could no longer be taken for granted, and she wanted to contribute to that security.