Princess Catharina-Amalia, the 21-year-old Princess of Orange and heir to the Dutch throne, appeared in high spirits as she carried out official duties in Amsterdam on Wednesday, nearly a month after reports that her image had been used in manipulated intimate videos.
Amalia was welcomed at a city event by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema and is scheduled to discuss local developments and meet several residents over lunch. The royal was photographed smiling during the engagement and wore a white tie-up blouse with black flared trousers and burgundy heels.
Dutch and international investigators have been working to remove the manipulated footage after reports in August that the princess had been the subject of AI-generated "deepfake" videos. Authorities in the Netherlands and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation have taken steps to shut down websites, including a site known as MrDeepFakes, that circulated altered videos said to feature Amalia alongside images of about 70 other Dutch women. The altered material used artificial intelligence to place the princess’s likeness over the bodies of performers to create explicit content, according to reporting.
The Royal House has said the princess is being supported by her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Dutch law criminalises the creation of such content; perpetrators can face up to one year in prison, with heavier penalties for repeated offences. As of Wednesday, no arrests in connection with the reported deepfake circulation have been publicly announced.
This is not the first time the princess has had her image manipulated online. Dutch media previously reported similar incidents in 2022. Amalia, who has studied at the University of Amsterdam, addressed the issue academically: the Royal House recently shared a photograph of her completed thesis, titled "Beyond Disclosure: Bridging the Gap Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies." The Royal House also announced that she will begin a bachelor’s degree in Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam in the coming academic year.
Security concerns have followed the princess since 2023, when authorities reported that organised crime communications raised fears of possible kidnapping attempts. Those threats prompted heightened protection measures and led to a period living abroad; Amalia spent more than a year in Spain amid concerns for her safety. At the time, Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed concern for the princess and said authorities were doing everything to ensure her safety.
Amalia is the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Her younger sisters are Princess Alexia, 19, and Princess Ariane, 18. Dutch media reported that Ariane plans to take a gap year following her recent graduation and will later resume her studies.
The princess’s public appearance in Amsterdam underscores both her continued role in official duties and the ongoing legal and investigative response to the circulation of manipulated images. Dutch authorities have said they are investigating those responsible for creating and distributing the altered videos, while the royal household continues to provide support as proceedings and inquiries proceed.