“It was very real,” says Janine.
Getting a big smack from the king: a wet dream (or nightmare) for many women, a reality for Janine van den Ende. Last Monday she received the Cross of Honor in the House Order of Orange, which earned her a kiss from Willem-Alexander.
Royal ribbon
Every now and then our king hands out awards to people who have made a valuable contribution to society. Janine van den Ende received such a royal ribbon last Monday for her efforts for the More Music in the Classroom Foundation. She tells RTL Boulevard how the festive event went.
Special moment
“I’m still a bit confused about it,” says a still blushing Janine at her husband Joop van den Ende’s side. “We were allowed to invite 22 people, so a group of friends who have known us for years. They were all there. So we all went to Noordeinde. At four o’clock the king and queen arrived, and I was allowed to stand next to the king.” The fact that she could introduce her friends and family to the royal couple felt very special to her.
A kiss from the king
“And then the speech started, about our love for art and culture, about the foundation we founded,” Janine beams. “It was very moving. It was very personal and that touched us very much.” After the speech, Janine was allowed to come forward and was presented with the award. “And then she said: ‘Can I give you a kiss?’” Joop reveals. “Well, and you did.”
Look deeply into each other’s eyes…
…and there it goes!
She also got a treat from Máx.
For Janine, the kiss felt like a very logical action. “When you get such a personal speech and you commit so much to it, yes, I just felt that way.” And rightly so: if you get that opportunity, you should grab it with both hands (or rather: lips), nun?
Source: RTL Boulevard | Image: NL Image
