By: E&P Staff The Associated Press is facing legal action by members of the Dutch royal family and the Dutch state information office after allegedly distributing unauthorized photos of members of the royal family.
The Rotterdam-based newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported that the AP distributed four pictures of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Maxim? and their daughter, Princess Amalia while the family was on holiday at an Argentinian ski resort earlier this summer.
The government information agency, RVD, told the paper that the photos constitute a violation of the so-called "media code," an understanding -- traditionally observed by the Dutch media -- that the royal family can only be photographed at official functions. In exchange, the royals regularly pose for official photo-ops while on vacation.
"They [the AP] have to remove the pictures from their database. If they promise to do so, we will call off the lawsuit," the RVD said in a statement.
According to NRC Handelsblad, a letter from lawyers for the royal family arrived at several Dutch news sources July 30 that had published the AP's pictures, as well as at the Associated Press itself. The letter asked that the news outlets promise not to publish similar pictures in the future.
The AP was the only organization not to respond to the letter. Amsterdam bureau chief Arthur Max told NRC Handelsblad that the reason was that the letter had mistakenly been delivered to the bureau's complaints department.
When contacted by E&P Online, AP Director of Media Relations Paul Colford offered no comment. The lawsuit is set to be heard Aug. 14.
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander is the eldest son of the current Dutch monarch, Queen Beatrix and is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne. Like the United Kingdom, the Dutch monarchy is a constitutional monarchy.
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