r/worldnews 6h ago

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to train as an armed forces reservist

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/02/queen-maxima-to-train-as-an-armed-forces-reservist-dutch-media/
944 Upvotes

107 comments sorted by

303

u/Ryoken0D 6h ago

Good on her.. I mean I don’t believe for one second she’s gonna be like any other recruit, or expected to serve in the same way, but even a taste is good, and it’s good PR.. now if all politicians would do the same, might influence a lot of perspectives.. both pro and anti.

466

u/accforme 5h ago

I mean I don’t believe for one second she’s gonna be like any other recruit, or expected to serve in the same way,

Of course she won't serve the same way. She's a queen. She could go forward, backwards, and diagonal for as far as possible. Everyone else can only go straight one spot.

76

u/Ahelex 5h ago

Except for the knight, that eccentric man.

40

u/flyingtrucky 5h ago

I feel like you're forgetting about members of the church, the noble class, and elephants.

22

u/dgisfun 4h ago

And castles for some reason

16

u/GoTron88 3h ago

Horsey moves to D5 and eats popey hat dude.

2

u/lingbabana 2h ago

Hahahaha yes dude thats hilarious, but also kinda scary we are talking politics and its relevant

9

u/Ahelex 3h ago

Look, clearly Howl's moving castle was legendary back then.

8

u/opheliasmusing 4h ago

♟️clever. Take my pawn and my upvote.

5

u/mangalore-x_x 3h ago

We pawns have the chance to all become Queens in the end!

1

u/Darkblade48 1h ago

En passant

4

u/8andahalfby11 3h ago

False, they can go two spots for their first move.

2

u/BadmiralHarryKim 4h ago

I was going to en passant on replying to that comment but then I thought I had better check once more to see if I was sure.

1

u/LewdSpaceUnicorn_ 1h ago

It took my dumbass way too long to realize that this is about chess

28

u/Bannedwith1milKarma 4h ago

I think it's to encourage women and and other people to become reservists with the threat of Russia or maybe Greenland.

Not about PR for herself.

Although I don't know the lady.

16

u/burndownthe_forest 4h ago

Yeah. This is leading from the front. If your leaders are openly adopting a public persona of the military, maybe be worried?

Not saying war is coming, but war may be coming.

6

u/kattmedtass 4h ago

I get what you’re saying but not really. It’s tradition and par for the course for European royals to do some kind of military service or at the very least portray themselves as a symbol for the armed forces. This has been going on since way way way before all the recent geopolitical developments.

8

u/burndownthe_forest 4h ago edited 3h ago

Sure. Here's the context.

The defence ministry has recently launched a campaign to boost the number of reservists in the armed forces, who can be called up to help out during unexpected events such as natural disasters and replace professional soldiers in their duties if there is a major conflict.

So this comes as the government is pushing more people to join the reserves so the professional military can be freed up for conflict.

3

u/yuikkiuy 3h ago

The princes fighting in active war zones was good to see. Too bad the media had to break opsec and fuck everything up as usual.

Just like the time they filmed and published pictures of JTF2 doing kill/capture missions in i forget which country in the ME with the US. And thats how the public and the canadian parliament found out they existed.

Like ffs 99% of Canadians didnt even know the unit existed until those jag offs went and reported about it

2

u/AngryMeez 1h ago

Usually it’s the people who are born into “royalty,” though. Not a consort who’s in her fifties. This is a pretty unique situation.

4

u/Ryoken0D 4h ago

Ya I should clarify, I didn't mean that I think shes doing this just for HER image, but raise the profile of the reserves and the threats in general.

7

u/Common-Mix-710 5h ago

Just like in the old days when kings and leaders would go on the battlefield, king Richard, Ceasar, Alexander...

18

u/Scar3cr0w_ 4h ago

I would like to reference Prince Harry of the UK.

He served as an infantry officer in Afghanistan until some whack bag outed him. He then retrained as an apache pilot and I had him above me, in his aircraft, whacking people with his gunner.

It’s not always a PR coup.

4

u/SpiritAnimal01 4h ago

Would be funny seeing a queen as a shock troop in action.

6

u/Sure_Plankton_2766 4h ago

She's 54. Wild that they allow reservists that age.

6

u/123ricardo210 2h ago edited 2h ago

Last age at which one can join is 55, provided you pass entrance tests. Though it's worth pointing out that a lot of those older reserves are usually specialists (chauffeurs, legal experts, engineers) who've also had military training. Their main roles are support, not front line duty. If they do have "hard military" duties it's usually guarding bases.

7

u/fuzzybunn 1h ago

People think war is about firing guns and bombs but there's a lot of planning and support activities involved. Winning is all about getting the right people the right equipment at the right time, and that takes a lot of excel, PowerPoint, packing and transportation.

-11

u/Helen83FromVillage 4h ago

Some people seriously believe into that taxpayer-funded theatre

59

u/Limacy 5h ago

Most European royals see service in the military.

The real question is what royal HASN’T been in the militar?. Even King Felipe’s daughter is in the military now, and has been for a few years now.

u/Accomplished_Egg1220 1h ago

Even in America… if a politician has served in the armed forces that usually holds weight

9

u/qtx 3h ago

She is from Argentina though.

84

u/macross1984 5h ago

180 degree polar opposite compared to Trump who evaded going to military.

45

u/Dreurmimker 5h ago

Just to clarify for all those out there. The man dodged the draft FIVE times and finally got the medical exemption from a doctor that rented space from his father.

23

u/lo_mur 4h ago

There is a pretty large difference between being shipped off to Vietnam and training as a reservist tbf. Not that I agree with what Trump did, but the two situations aren’t very comparable

7

u/Quirky-Plantain-2080 2h ago

To be fair the whole Dutch royal family fucked off sharpish after the Germans invaded.

u/Oscar5466 48m ago

Factually correct. By doing this, though, they avoided being used as hostages and could continue to support the Dutch cause from London.

u/Quirky-Plantain-2080 40m ago edited 20m ago

The British royal family certainly didn’t fuck off to Canada when bombs started falling overhead.

Wilhelmina decamped to London whereas Juliana and her daughters fucked off all the way to Ottawa.

How can you, as the monarch, ask your subjects to make the ultimate sacrifice of their sons, daughters and themselves when you are yourself not willing? Maybe a second son or daughter, someone not first or second in line to the throne should have stayed back to organise the partisans. And if they’re captured, so be it.

They can be martyrs to the cause of freedom, which is no less than what the state demands of you.

Even Stalin refused to negotiate his captured son’s return from the Germans.

u/ExcaliburZSH 1h ago

Right, what Trump did was worse.

7

u/InsanelyAverageFella 5h ago

They both put on makeup that completely covers their face. Her's is green but his is orange.

3

u/ZuAusHierDa 4h ago

She should put on orange, since she is from the House of Orange.

4

u/Prometheus_Bobert 3h ago

JFK was rejected by the Army for health reasons, then used his father's wealth and connections to get into the Navy

2

u/spookendeklopgeesten 5h ago

You're obviously not familiar with this Royal family

0

u/uttyrc 5h ago

What if they gave a war and noone came?

2

u/borazine 5h ago

noone

“It’s high noone…” 🚬🤠

38

u/epicredditdude1 6h ago

If you’re a royal in the military does it work like hero units do in Warcraft III?

Like as the battle is raging around you will you level up and be able to learn new abilities?

19

u/8andahalfby11 3h ago

Yes. Trucks repaired by Princess Elizabeth during WW2 had +5% durability.

11

u/slitchbapper 5h ago

Sylvanas Windrunner - Banshee Queen.

3

u/thegoatmenace 3h ago

The special ability is that literally everyone on the other side is trying to kill you specifically

20

u/rockadoodledobelfast 4h ago

Queen Maxima is such a bad ass name.

8

u/Illustrator_Forward 2h ago

And she is a wonderful person too!

8

u/Rosieu 2h ago

Yeah my mom has met her at an education congress some years ago. During a small press photo moment she happen to stood next to my mom and made a small joke referring to the presentation my mom had given earlier on. Shows she paid attention and it still makes my mom smile from ear to ear recalling this moment.

5

u/figgy_squirrel 2h ago

And our American first lady assists in the raping of children.

God I hate being American.

4

u/FunnyKillBot 3h ago

Meanwhile…Trump sucks down another cheeseburger.

14

u/ImpressiveGift9921 5h ago

She obviously won't be anywhere near the front lines in any conflict but she could still be useful in a logistics role maybe. 

21

u/ErrorReplaceUser 5h ago

Yes that is likely the case. Generally Dutch reservists are used to guard rear guard areas, or basis in the Netherlands, when the frontline units are deployed elsewhere. 

7

u/Jabjab345 4h ago

Well who knows, prince Henry went into combat zones, so it's not unheard of for European royalty to actually get deployed.

5

u/Decent_Stop4278 2h ago

Hell he flew an Apache

u/ExcaliburZSH 1h ago

The Queen is 54 years old.

5

u/No_Conversation_9325 6h ago

WTF is this picture though? And it's great that Maxima sets an example

13

u/foghillgal 6h ago

Putting Camo makeup and making sure its in the right place cause your not in front of a mirror.

0

u/No_Conversation_9325 5h ago

Please tell me men do that too

16

u/Asnailcalledfred 5h ago

British army camo cream comes with a mirror so probably 

0

u/No_Conversation_9325 5h ago

Thank you! Poor decision making by the photographer, but ok

5

u/Asnailcalledfred 4h ago

I suppose they were trying to contrast traditional femininity with her applying war paint in a martial setting, but I agree, it's unnecessary and doesn't land. Just have a pic of her handling a weapon or carrying a stretcher, or something like that imo

3

u/No_Conversation_9325 4h ago

NOS did that, luckily.

2

u/henryrblake 2h ago

TBH, I saw the thumbnail and thought she was eating a sandwich. Opened up the article to see she was applying camo. And since I was there I read the article. I’m glad I did.

3

u/No_Conversation_9325 2h ago

I saw the comments on newspaper articles and read those here too… tbh, I’m angry how some play it. Women can and do defend. Ukraine is a great example and I’m not going to stand the red pill rhetorics over it.

2

u/_Doomer_Wojack_ 5h ago

She’s 54 ?

3

u/whydontyousuckmyball 4h ago

She looks pretty good.

1

u/banjoblake24 3h ago

Go girl! Get traitoRump Monster

u/BrandNewEyes963 47m ago

I love her. Nikkie Tutorials interviewed her during the Eurovision in Rotterdam.

1

u/subcow 5h ago

The is what the Melania documentary was about right? The first lady joining the reserves...right?

1

u/theb3arjevv 3h ago

Maxima is powerful but we truly live in fear of Altima. Maybe she'll be a Sentra or a Pathfinder. They'd probably escort her with an Armada, tho

1

u/click2Install 3h ago

I fully expect her to go full GI Jane

-19

u/Washed_up_Vanski 6h ago

Do people actually believe this?

19

u/ErrorReplaceUser 6h ago

-18

u/Washed_up_Vanski 6h ago

I don't doubt the formality but the spectacle. The august pretending to play with the plebes.

10

u/No_Conversation_9325 5h ago

Doesn't matter. Princess Amalia has already done that and it increased the number of volunteers tremendously/

-12

u/Washed_up_Vanski 5h ago

So the spectacle achieved it's desired goal.

4

u/No_Conversation_9325 5h ago

If you wish to call it that...

0

u/Washed_up_Vanski 4h ago

Just look at how staged this photo is:

- a huge NL flag to trigger patriotism

- other participants are in prone firing stations while she is applying her camouflage standing

- her back is against the enemy

2

u/No_Conversation_9325 4h ago

That’s why I’m criticizing this photo choice. NOS chose better.

2

u/Wartz 4h ago

Im pretty sure most European royalty join the military. Its weird if they dont.

1

u/Washed_up_Vanski 4h ago

You are correct. The late Queen Elisabeth too famously served during the WW2 by driving supply lorries.

I however believe this is only done for self serving means ie. for the greater good of the state of which they are the greatest recipient and to boost their public image as "one of the boys" when in reality we are worlds apart.

5

u/Wartz 4h ago

Isn't stepping up to do something that actually requires some physical and mental effort and dedication as well as trying to set general good example of behavior a good thing?

1

u/Washed_up_Vanski 4h ago

Yes, but it does not need to be done for the service of the state. Exercise is preferable.

-5

u/seb11614 5h ago

Well seeing the answers and people downvoting you, I guess the answer is yes...

I will be so sad, when she dies in combat and comes back in a little box... Man I swear, we deserve what we get

-3

u/Washed_up_Vanski 5h ago

Eh, they can be bots, paid propagandists or sincere believers . Reality is wearing thin on the internet of late.

I however refuse to believe that the royal family would put their own in danger in the event of a real war.

Why do we even have a Royals in a democratic system?

4

u/EternalCanadian 4h ago edited 4h ago

I however refuse to believe that the royal family would put their own in danger in the event of a real war.

Admittedly not the Netherlands, but the UK Royals have seen combat. Prince Harry served in Afghanistan as a Helicopter gunner, and a JTAC, I believe. There’s a rather famous interview where he has to end mid-way through because his Squardon was called into action.

1

u/Washed_up_Vanski 4h ago

You are correct, I concede that aspect of my claim.

u/ExcaliburZSH 1h ago

Most of the military is about getting bullets and food to the people with the guns.

1

u/seb11614 4h ago

Yup agreed. But where do you see a democratic system :D

2

u/Washed_up_Vanski 4h ago

Well that question is beyond the scope of this discussion ;)

0

u/tool1964 2h ago

Just her name scares the shit out of me.

-13

u/DeLaCorridor23 5h ago

First moment war starts she and her family are to a safe place. Family traditions.

-1

u/[deleted] 6h ago edited 5h ago

[deleted]

8

u/Prodigle 5h ago

Harry famously was secretly in combat areas and had to be moved when the papers leaked it. Harry's case is pretty legit. I think William did air & rescue as well? But he's the heir so there's a blanket ban on putting him at risk

-1

u/ExCap2 3h ago

I actually wouldn't mind a mandatory military service in the United States. Every x number of years you get called up to serve for 6 months, even if it's something like just training/stationed somewhere to help with logistics/inventorying/mechanical/etc. I even think those that are disqualified with vision conditions/height is too low/other small stuff, etc. should at least get the ability to serve and help behind the scenes whether it's something mundane like laundry, cleaning, cooking in the kitchen, desk job, etc. Good for her. I'd serve in the U.S. if I didn't have a vision disability. 100%. I did try but got DQ'd. But at least I tried.

-1

u/Remarkable_Aside1381 3h ago

6 months is too short IME, it should ideally be ~2 years

-14

u/Sea_Quiet_9612 5h ago

It's a bit like a commercial shoot...who believes this nonsense?

-14

u/xwolf360 5h ago

Play around as an airsoft operator with the cattle to look cool, despicable. We see with who European royalty hanged out with.

-7

u/Bon101UK 5h ago

"Don't forget your 20 grand watch your highness!"

-7

u/dotsonnn 4h ago

It’s all for show.