(LtoR) Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands place votive candles in front of the train car, the symbol of the event, to pay tribute to the victims during commemorations on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Red Army, in Oswiecim, Poland on January 27, 2025. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP) (Photo by WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Queen Maxima's daughter joins royals from around Europe at Auschwitz

The 21 year old is the heir to the Dutch throne

Contributor

JANUARY 27, 2025 7:34 PM ESTJAN 27, 2025, 7:34 PM EST

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands accompanied her parents, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander, to Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Dressed in black, the 21 year old, who is first in line to the Dutch throne, attended the main commemoration, which, per the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum website, was held in a special tent built over the gate to the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.

The Princess of Orange stood between her parents as the King and Queen placed candles on a table towards the end of the event. A number of royals traveled to Poland to mark the anniversary. In addition to the Dutch royals, King Charles, Spain's Queen Letizia and King Felipe, Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Luxembourg's Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie all attended the main commemorative event on Monday, Jan. 27.

According to Sky News, King Charles is the first serving British monarch to visit Auschwitz. At a Holocaust education event earlier this month, His Majesty discussed his plans to visit, admitting (via The Telegraph), “I feel I must for the 80th anniversary,” adding, “It’s so important.”

(L-R) King Philippe of Belgium, Queen Mathilde of Belgium , King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain , King Frederik X of Denmark, Queen Mary and King Charles III attends the main commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau German concentration camp in Brzezinka, Poland, on January 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Back at home in the UK, Charles' son Prince William and daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, stepped out in London for a service commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Catherine, who announced this month that she is in remission, is said to have made a "last-minute" decision to join her husband at the event. Following her arrival, the Princess of Wales said (via The Sun's Matt Wilkinson) that "it's good to be able to be here." William also shared that they were "glad" to be there. The Prince of Wales noted, "It's important to be here."

The heir to the throne spoke at the event on Monday, saying: "I am honored to join you today to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and to remember the millions murdered during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides. We also remember those survivors who have lived with the scars, both mental and physical."

Prince William added, "Their bravery, in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives, are extremely powerful and ensure that we never forget. I assure them, we never will."