THE HAGUE, 10/03/01 - Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on Saturday. The festivities will be limited to a small circle, as the health of Prince Claus does not allow a larger family party at present, the Government Information Service (RVD) said on Friday.

Beatrix and Claus were married on 10 March 1966 in Amsterdam. Their engagement caused considerable consternation at the time, comparable to the commotion that has now arisen in connection with the relationship between Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta.

Diplomat Claus von Amsberg was a German. So soon after World War II, this aroused opposition in Jewish circles and from former resistance fighters. Smoke bombs and catcalls accompanied the procession in the Golden Coach on their wedding day. Here and there, flags hung at half-mast, and police and army were strongly in evidence.

His marriage to the Crown Princess meant that Prince Claus acquired Dutch nationality, and since then his name has been Claus, Prince of the Netherlands, Esquire van Amsberg. The replacement of the German word "von" in his name by the Dutch "van" indicates clearly how sensitive a subject the nationality of the new Prince Consort was.

Claus learned Dutch very quickly. It seems that his possible future daughter-in-law Maxima Zorreguieta possesses the same abilities. Since his marriage, Claus has mainly concerned himself with urban planning and development cooperation. The latter subject is one that is still of great interest to the Prince, who is now 74.

Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus had three sons: Willem-Alexander (1967), Johan Friso (1968) and Constantijn (1969). Which of the children will be visiting their parents in Huis ten Bosch on Saturday is a private matter, the RVD spokesman stated, and no information on the subject would be issued. The same applies to whether or not Laurentien Brinkhorst, Prince Constantijn's fiancee, and Maxima Zorreguieta will be present. In January, Maxima did appear publicly at the Queen's 63rd birthday celebrations in Amsterdam.