Posted by LittleMo on July 5, 2012, 3:36 pm, in reply to "rings"
Thanks John, that is fascinating background to those of us who are 'foreigners' and don't know that sort of detail
--Previous Message-- : There has been a TV-programme about her half a : year ago or so and one of the items in it : was about the fact that Maxima wore her : weddingring in the Catholic fashion. : The programmemakers did draw the conclusion : that she still was a real catholic (if I : remember correctly also Alexander wore it on : his left hand). : : Which in itself is strange because they put : it during the wedding-ceremony on the right : hand. : : They might have changed it now because : Willem-Alexander said in 2001 that the House : of Orange would remain protestant and they : probarbly didn't like the fact that this : TV-programme made such a fuss about it. : : We should keep in mind that the House of : Orange has a very fervent following in the : socalled Biblebelt (part of Holland where : people are predominantly very religious and : of the most fanatic protestant : denominations). : This group still exists of some 500.000 : Dutch citizens and has its own schools, : newspaper, political party and although not : always clearly visisble still real influence : on a lot of things... : : I think the Royal family/court tries to keep : these people "on board". : Because of the very prominent secularisation : of our country a lot of this half a million : people are becoming more and more critical : towards the Dutch state, government and : other institutions etc. : : They have always been the most loyal and : supportive fans of the Queen and the : Monarchy but are increasingly becoming more : and more critical towards the Royal family : because of Alexander and Maxima's Mondaine : lifestyle (working on sundays, mingling with : the stars and celebrities, costly : holidayhomes, gay-friendlyness etc.) : : Ofcourse neither Maxima nor Willem-Alexander : will change big time but in changing the way : they wear their weddingrings into the : protestant fashion they have given a subtle : signal to apeace this not so small group. : They have thrown them a small fish as it : were . : : I think changing the rings from the catholic : to the protestant hand right after the : TV-programme would have been to obvious so : that she waited a few months but has changed : it now. :
on July 5, 2012, 3:36 pm, in reply to "