The Dutch Royal Family: Princess Mabel

Princess Mabel is married to Prince Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. They married on 24 April 2004. The government decided not to seek parliament’s permission to approve the marriage, respecting the wishes of the couple. Princess Mabel is not a member of the Royal House.

Youth

Mabel Martine was born in Pijnacker on 11 August 1968, the eldest daughter of Henk Los and Flos Kooman.

After her father’s death, her mother married Peter Wisse Smit. In 1984, Princess Mabel officially took her stepfather’s surname. She has two sisters.

Education

In 1986, Princess Mabel gained her VWO (pre-university education) certificate at the Gemeentelijk Gymnasium in Hilversum.

She studied economics and political science at the University of Amsterdam and graduated cum laude in 1993. While still at university, she gained work experience at the United Nations Secretariat in New York, Shell in Malaysia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague and ABN AMRO Bank in Barcelona.

Marriage and family

Mabel Wisse Smit became engaged to Prince Friso on 30 June 2003.

They married on 24 April 2004 in Delft. Their daughter Luana (Emma Luana Ninette Sophie Countess of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg) was born on 26 March 2005. Their second daughter, Zaria (Joanna Zaria Nicoline Milou Countess of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg) was born on 18 June 2006.
The family lives in London.

Permission to marry

The government decided not to seek parliament’s permission for the marriage, respecting the wishes of the couple. Princess Mabel is not a member of the Royal House.

Title

Since her marriage, Princess Mabel has held the courtesy titles of Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mrs Van Amsberg. Her children will receive the titles Count or Countess of Orange-Nassau and Jonkheer or Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg.

Work and official duties

In early 1994, Princess Mabel founded and became director of the European Action Council for Peace in the Balkans, a non-governmental organisation working towards peace, democracy and stability in the Balkans.

She co-founded War Child Netherlands in 1995.

In 1997, Princess Mabel became director of the Open Society Institute in Brussels. This institute represents the Soros Foundations Network in Western Europe, promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law. She has been director of EU affairs at the Open Society Institute since 2003.

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