Pasterk told the princess: "We can be very proud of you. As our future queen it is appropriate you are in this audience."
The Netherland's Princess Máxima has been invited to take part in the Amsterdam Gay Canal Parade.
The 36-year-old princess was asked by Dutch Education Minister Ronald Plasterk to join him on his boat at the annual event in the country's capital city - which takes place between August 1-3 - during a ceremony to mark a special agreement regarding gay rights yesterday (05.03.08).
Pasterk told the princess: "We can be very proud of you. As our future queen it is appropriate you are in this audience.
"I can announce the department of education will participate with its own boat in the annual Amsterdam Gay Canal Parade this summer. I will be on board and you are welcome too."
The country's orthodox protestant SGP party immediately attacked the move.
Its leader Bas van der Vlies blasted: "Has the minister gone bonkers?"
Yesterday's agreement signed by the government and the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht aims to share educational programmes to encourage school pupils not to discriminate against homosexuals, and help other cities deal with similar issues.
Meanwhile, the editor of Dutch gay magazine GayKrant, who was also present at the meeting, revealed Queen Beatrix has been an avid subscriber to his publication for many years, according to Dutch news agency GPD.
Princess Máxima
Gay Canal Parade
