THE BOTTOM - In the village square of Windwardside on Saba, a baby is pushed into Amalia's arms. It has happened to her several times in the past few days. The princess laughs, lets the bystanders take pictures. Get hugged by toddlers. Gives high fives, and shakes hands. Watches performances, and listen to presentations about nature, culture, and history. And everywhere sounds: “Amalia. Amalia. Amalia!”
Things can go wrong quickly, a first visit to overseas parts of a kingdom. Britain's William and Kate were welcomed last year in the Commonwealth countries of Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas with demonstrations, demands for reparations for slavery, and calls for the abolition of the monarchy.
Not in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is noticeable on the street that the residents' frustrations are mainly aimed at their own politicians and those of the Netherlands. Not to the king. Let alone his daughter.