A Celebration of European Service and Distinction: An Historic Gathering of Nobility and Merit at Noordeinde Palace

The Hague, Netherlands – April 30, 2025 —

Beneath the stately canopy of Noordeinde Palace’s Hall of Knights, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands presided over the 2025 Royal Honours Ceremony. This esteemed annual event, held in tandem with the Kingdom’s national Koningsdag celebrations, bore particular distinction this year for its expanded recognition of international figures of noble descent and public distinction.

In a move hailed by European commentators as a “graceful renewal of pan-European honour,” Her Majesty extended accolades to individuals whose work embodies a modern redefinition of nobility—not as hereditary privilege alone, but as lived obligation and contemporary service.

Honouring Distinguished Service

Among this year’s central honourees were three members of the Dutch royal family whose initiatives represent innovation, social responsibility, and cultural leadership:

• Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
  Recognised for his transformative work in technology and entrepreneurship as Special Envoy for Techleap.nl, Prince Constantijn has played a pivotal role in accelerating the Dutch startup ecosystem and advocating for a digitally resilient Europe.
• Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
  Honoured for decades of work in the field of literacy and social equity, Princess Laurentien’s efforts through the Reading & Writing Foundation have helped reduce illiteracy and social marginalisation across the Low Countries.
• Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau
  Celebrated as a prominent young voice for mental health awareness and generational engagement, Countess Eloise has used her public visibility to encourage authenticity and wellness among Dutch youth.

Her Majesty praised all three for “exemplifying how noble duty continues through modern action, humanitarian focus, and cultural relevance.”

A Broader European Recognition

In addition to the Dutch honourees, Her Majesty’s Court recognised a number of European figures whose contributions span technology, diplomacy, cultural preservation, and humanitarian protection. Among them:

• Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme (Netherlands/Spain)
  A diplomat and environmental advocate, Prince Jaime was recognised for his work as Senior Advisor for Climate Diplomacy at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his ongoing commitment to global climate resilience.
• Archduke Karl von Habsburg (Austria)
  As head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, Archduke Karl was acknowledged for his decades of advocacy for European integration and cultural heritage protection, particularly through his leadership of the pan-European NGO Blue Shield International.
• Duke Eberhard of Württemberg (Germany)
  A philanthropist and patron of education and interfaith dialogue, Duke Eberhard has been instrumental in supporting reconciliation initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe.
• James Allister Odd, Comte de Valais (Switzerland/UK – USA)
  Honoured for his humanitarian work in combatting human trafficking and exploitation. As an advisor to international investigative bodies, Comte de Valais has supported cross-border operations and digital forensics initiatives aimed at dismantling trafficking networks and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
• Princess Marie of Denmark
  Recognised for her humanitarian work with the Danish Red Cross and her advocacy for food security and sustainable development in vulnerable communities.