Weekly magazine Nieuwe Revu is to stop complying with an agreement drawn up between the media on protecting the privacy of the Dutch royal family.

The media code was established in 2005 to enable the young princesses to have as normal a life as possible but also extends to other members of the family.

In the code, journalists agreed not to take photographs of the royal family outside official engagements. In return, the family agreed to pose for photographs at twice-yearly sessions; once in the summer and once at the start of their skiing holiday.

Hockey

Nieuwe Revu says the code does not fit in with a modern democracy. This week it has nine-year-old princess Amalia on the cover with the title ‘Amalia’s secrets’. Inside are three photographs of the girl, including one taken while she is playing hockey.

Gossip magazines Privé and Story are also fed up with the media code, Nieuwe Revu reports.

It is something the Oranjes have to learn to live with, Story editor Matthieu Slee said. ‘Otherwise you have to give up your privileges. Willem-Alexander gets over €825,000 a year and can stop whenever he likes. Can you not give up some of your privacy for that money?’

In 2009, the state information office RVD took legal action against the American press agency AP for distributing photos of crown prince Willem-Alexander and his family.