Dutch judges remove queen's portraits from courts
DUTCH judges in The Hague have removed portraits of their new Argentine-born Queen Maxima from courtrooms, saying they don't want to hand down verdicts before someone who is not head of state.
Maxima, 42, became queen when Willem-Alexander was sworn in as king on April 30, succeeding his mother Beatrix on the throne. The couple's official photograph was then hung in state buildings.
But judges in The Hague argued that since Maxima is not a sovereign, the portraits should not be displayed in court.
"Although it's no longer in the constitution, judges traditionally hand down verdicts 'in the name of the head of state'," a court spokesman said.
"Maxima is not a head of state."
The obligation to deliver judgements "in the name of the head of state" was removed from the constitution around 10 years ago, Boer said.
But some judges in The Hague, the Netherlands' seat of government and home to the royal family, still hand down verdicts according to that tradition.
Maxima, 42, became queen when Willem-Alexander was sworn in as king on April 30, succeeding his mother Beatrix on the throne. The couple's official photograph was then hung in state buildings.
But judges in The Hague argued that since Maxima is not a sovereign, the portraits should not be displayed in court.
"Although it's no longer in the constitution, judges traditionally hand down verdicts 'in the name of the head of state'," a court spokesman said.
"Maxima is not a head of state."
The obligation to deliver judgements "in the name of the head of state" was removed from the constitution around 10 years ago, Boer said.
But some judges in The Hague, the Netherlands' seat of government and home to the royal family, still hand down verdicts according to that tradition.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.