Princess Laurentien Appears in Kruidvat Promotion for Children’s Books
Princess Laurentien has drawn public attention and political criticism after appearing prominently in a new promotional brochure for the drugstore chain Kruidvat, mediacourant.nl reported. The Dutch royal features in the retailer’s marketing materials to support an affordable children’s book campaign priced at 3.99 euros, a project she created in collaboration with Lizzy van Pelt.
The advertising campaign includes a quoted statement attributed to the princess regarding language development at home. The text reads: “Praat in de taal van je hart, of dat nu in het Nederlands, Fries, Turks, Arabisch of je streektaal is.” This phrasing quickly sparked debate among media commentators and royal watchers regarding the involvement of a royal family member in sensitive public discussions.
Royalty Experts Question Language Advice in Advertisements
Royalty expert Jeroen Snel criticized the specific inclusion of Turkish and Arabic in the promotional text during a broadcast of RTL Boulevard. Snel acknowledged that the princess’s overarching mission to promote reading is positive, but he called the multilingual recommendation unwise given existing educational challenges among young children.
Recent news reports indicate that four out of ten children face language development delays in the Netherlands. Snel argued that encouraging families to speak Turkish or Arabic at home does not assist children in mastering the Dutch language.
Prime Minister Bears Responsibility for Royal Statements
Snel pointed out the delicate political nature of the situation, noting that the prime minister bears ultimate political responsibility for every statement made by members of the royal house.
The appearance at Kruidvat follows other recent high-profile public outings by Princess Laurentien, including her attendance at the wedding of designer and television personality Olcay Gulsen.
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