Half the respondents to a Maurice de Hond poll published on Sunday say the queen’s role should be restricted to ceremonial functions, reports news service ANP. In April 2007 the figure was 41%.

The poll shows that 46% want the queen to continue in her present role as official head of the government, co-signing new laws and naming the person who is to form a new coalition.
The poll follows the outburst by anti-immigration party leader Geert Wilders at the end of last month in which he criticised the queen’s Christmas Day speech. The speech was ‘stuffed full of multi-cultural nonsense’ and largely directed at his party, Wilders said.