Spanish magazine comes under fire for calling Queen Maxima's daughter - and heir to the Dutch throne - Amalia, 16, as 'plus-size' on its front cover as critics claim it's 'dangerous' and 'disrespectful'
A magazine has come under fire after it described the 16-year-old heir to the Dutch throne as 'plus-size' on its front cover.
Princess Amalia, the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, is pictured alongside her mother on the most recent issue of Caras, a celebrity gossip and royal news magazine published in Spanish and Portuguese.
The photograph, one of several released this month by the Dutch royal family and not taken for the magazine, is published alongside a headline that, once translated, reads: 'Maxima's oldest daughter proudly wears her "plus-size" look.'
The magazine's subhead, once translated, reads: 'The harassed heir to the throne of the Netherlands faces criticism with force and with the support of her parents. A princess who goes through puberty without taboos and defends her figure of "real woman".'
However it is not thought the princess provided any quotes to the magazine or has ever commented on her weight in public.
Social media users and media outlets from Maxima's native Argentina have blasted the magazine for using the term to describe the teenage royal, saying it is 'dangerous', 'disrespectful' and 'shameful'.
Princess Amalia, the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, is pictured alongside her mother on the most recent issue of Caras, a celebrity gossip and royal news magazine published in Spanish and Portuguese. The headline, once translated, reads: 'Maxima's oldest daughter proudly wears her "plus-size" look
In response, the magazine released a statement saying the story was designed to tackle stigmatization and inspire readers who might be struggling with their own body confidence issues.
The front cover photo shows Princess Amalia in a blue dress alongside her mother Queen Maxima during a summer photo call at their residence, Palace Huis Ten Bosch. The photos were released by the Dutch royal family.
Queen Maxima, who worked as an investment banker before marrying into the royal family, and King Willem-Alexander, son of former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, are also parents to Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13.All five family members were photographed in the charming outdoor photo shoot, which is an annual tradition for the Dutch royal family.
The cover quickly garnered attention after it was shared via social media to Caras' 2.7 million Instagram followers and 500,000 Twitter followers.
Princess Amalia, pictured in February, is the eldest daughter of the Dutch King and Queen
An international royal romance! How Maxima, an Argentine former investment banker, fell for the Dutch prince who introduced himself as simply 'Alexander'
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in December
King Willem-Alexander, 53, became king after his mother, Beatrix, now 82, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch.
He met his future wife Maxima, who was born in Argentina, in 1999 at the annual Seville Fair in Seville, Spain, where she was introduced to him as simply 'Alexander'.
Maxima, who at the time was working in New York as an investment banker for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, thought the strapping Dutchman was joking when he told her that he was not only a prince, but the heir to the Dutch throne.
The couple met again two weeks later in New York City and a relationship blossomed across the continents. They announced their engagement in March 2001 and married the following year, holding both civil and religious ceremonies.
There was controversy surrounding the match because Maxima's father, Jorge Zorreguieta, held a role as a cabinet minister during the National Reorganization Process, the most recent Argentinian dictatorship.
He did not attend his daughter's wedding because of the connection, and his wife chose not to fly without her husband.
Willem-Alexander and Maxima have three daughters, Princess Amalia, 16, Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13. As the eldest child, Princess Amalia is heir to the Dutch throne.
As King Willem-Alexander’s wife, Queen Máxima’s main role is to support the head of state in performing his formal duties and is known for her warm nature and vibrant dress sense.
Queen Máxima holds numerous public posts and uses her previous career as an investment banker to campaign for greater financial literacy in the country.
Willem-Alexander and Maxima have three daughters, Princess Amalia, 16, Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13, pictured together this year. As the eldest child, Princess Amalia is heir to the Dutch throneThe post attracted thousands of comments, with many arguing it's inappropriate to focus on the young royal's body rather than her achievements.
National Argentine newspaper La Nación spoke to political scientist and feminist writer Florencia Freijo, who argued focus should be placed on the teenage royal's achievements, rather than her weight.
Local body positive activist Brenda Mato added the headline is 'counterproductive' in its desire to celebrate diverse body types because it calls for the reader to 'look at' Amalia's figure.
The sentiment was echoed on social media, with one Twitter user posting: 'You have to be very nefarious to propose/ approve this cover. They belittle her Amalia, a beautiful, sensitive and intelligent teenager playing cool.
'They talk about bullying and they are doing it to them. And they give a very dangerous message to the girls of 16 who read.'
Writing in Spanish, another said: 'Chubophobic, violent and irresponsible cover. For people like you are, we are one of the countries with the highest number of cases of eating disorders in the world.
'Are they are aware of the damage they do? ENOUGH to pass judgement on people by their physique!'
A flood of Twitter users blasted the publication for focusing on the royal's body shape instead of her achievements and accused Caras of 'bullying'
A third added: 'They say that she looks proud of her "plus-size" look and then say that she is a victim of bullying. They are disgusting, they are late and they have a shameful social irresponsibility. Whoever she is, she is a 16-year-old girl with a real body that must not be objectified or stigmatised.'
Despite the criticism, Hector Maugeri, an editor at the publication, stood by the decision and argued the story was intended to help other teenage girls who might be struggling with their body image.
In a lengthy Instagram caption, he wrote: 'The story of Amalia, Máxima's daughter and heir to the throne, is a story of self-improvement and resilience.
Hector Maugeri, who is a director at the magazine, has stood by the publication's decision to use the controversial title. Pictured: King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane of The Netherlands at their summer photo call
'The teenager, after having undergone brutal bullying during her childhood (something that Máxima also suffered and commented on on more than one occasion) managed to overcome it along with the love of her family, and above all, believing in her and in the woman he wants and chooses to be.
'CARAS is a magazine that always gave "voice" to those that society once tried to silence. We are not qualifiers.
'We are communicators and this week, Amalia's story is an example for other girls who could - or go through - the cruelty of those who only know how to see darkness and not light.'
The Dutch Royal family hasn't commented on the magazine cover.
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