Man cleared of plotting to kidnap princesses Amalia and Alexia

A man has been cleared of plotting to kidnap princesses Amalia and Alexia, the eldest daughters of king Willem-Alexander and queen Máxima, after a court ruled he was suffering from a psychosis at the time.

Anne Romke van der H., 33, believed he was in a relationship with Amalia, 22, and fantasised about marrying her before living in the wilds in Poland with her and her 21-year-old sister.

He bought items from a hardware store designed to use as a survival kit, including knives, cooking equipment and two hatchets, one of which he inscribed with Alexia’s name.

The prosecution service said he intended to abduct or attack the two princesses if they were unwilling to go along with his plans.

But a court in The Hague ruled there was no evidence that van der H., from Groningen, was preparing an actual attack on Amalia and Alexia or intended to threaten them.

A psychiatric assessment found he was schizophrenic and had become obsessed with the royal family, particularly the two princesses.

He was found guilty of insulting six police officers and smashing a window, but the court did not impose a fine or punishment because he was in psychosis at the time.

The court said the offences were not severe enough to justify a compulsory treatment regime (tbs), but Van der H. told the judges at an earlier hearing that he was willing to undergo voluntary treatment.