Princess Mabel may have been an agent or informant for the Dutch national security service BVD, according to the memoirs of a former BVD employer, quoted by HP/De Tijd.

In his book Frits Hoekstra suggests Mabel worked for the BVD, forerunner of the AIVD, during negotiations for the 1995 Dayton Agreement, the peace treaty which ended the Bosnian civil war. Hoekstra worked for the BVD between 1971 and 1989.
At that time Mabel, now married to queen Beatrix’s son prince Friso, had a relationship with Mohammed Sacirbey, Bosnia’s foreign minister who was closely involved with the peace talks.
Hoekstra suggests Mabel may have got in touch with Sacirbey at the request of the BVD, saying first-hand information about the negotitions were considered to be ‘extremely valuable’ trading material.
Mabel studied political science at Amsterdam University and did internships at the foreign affairs ministry and UN, both of which required security clearance by the BVD.
Mabel’s engagement and 2004 marriage to Friso were surrounded in controversy because of her friendship with drugs baron Klaas Bruinsma who was murdered in 1991.