Dutch judges remove queen's portraits from courts
Source: AFP |
July 24, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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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.
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