The House of Orange-Nassau is having a moment. Two World Cup victories in one day – the women's football team and the men's hockey side – have sent the Dutch royal family into a carefully choreographed frenzy of celebration. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were pictured beaming, waving flags, and shaking hands with victorious athletes. It is the kind of soft power triumph that republican critics find hard to dismiss.
Across the North Sea, Buckingham Palace took note. A Palace source confirmed that a private message of congratulations was sent. No official statement. No photo opportunity. Just a quiet, diplomatic nod. This is how the British monarchy operates: understated, deliberate, and always aware of the game. They know that too much enthusiasm from a rival royal house can look like interference.
But the contrast is instructive. The Dutch royals are visible, modern, and unapologetically nationalistic in their celebrations. King Willem-Alexander, a former hockey player himself, was seen in animated conversation with the men's team. The Queen posed for selfies. It was a masterclass in approachable monarchy.
Back in London, the Palace's restraint is tactical. Sources inside the Royal Household tell me that there is a quiet respect for the Dutch model, but a determination to stick to the British script. “We do not do public celebrations for foreign victories,” a senior courtier said. “It would be seen as interfering in other nations' affairs. We congratulate privately, and that is enough.”
Yet the timing is awkward. The British monarchy is still navigating the fallout from the King's recent health scare and the ongoing tensions with the Prince of Wales. A public gesture might have distracted from home troubles. But the Dutch, without such domestic dramas, can afford to be effusive.
There is also a deeper political calculation. With Brexit and the constant comparisons between British and European institutions, any royal overture to the Netherlands must be careful not to reignite old debates about sovereignty. The Palace remembers the backlash when the late Queen appeared too friendly with foreign leaders during the EU referendum campaign.
For now, the Dutch royals are riding high. The British monarchy watches, sends its quiet congratulations, and waits for its own moment. In the game of thrones, sometimes you win by not playing.
More from the Lobby: I am told that the Foreign Office is keen to use the Dutch sporting success as a backchannel for trade discussions. Expect a carefully worded phone call between the foreign secretaries in the coming days. The Palace, as always, will stay out of it.
