HILVERSUM, 01/03/06 - Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn, the ex-husband of Princess Margarita, is threatening to make public a conversation with Queen Beatrix. Margarita's lawyer G. Kemper has summonsed him not to do so and to immediately hand over the tapes.

De Roy van Zuydewijn said on television programme Barend en Van Dorp that he possesses sound recordings of a meeting between Margarita and the Queen on 19 January 2002 on his marriage to the princess. At that time, the couple were still together and involved in a battle with the rest of the Royal Family, which they accused of slander.

According to De Roy van Zuydewijn, Kemper is threatening him with a summary injunction behind closed doors if he makes the tapes public. Margarita's ex says releasing the statements of the Queen on the tapes serves a "great public interest." He wants to publish them on the Internet and in a book. "If a head of state expresses herself as on these tapes, the Netherlands should be made aware of this."

The Government Information Service (RVD) confirmed that Margarita retained her lawyer to get back the tapes. The RVD did not wish to go into the details of the matter.

Kemper said on behalf of the princess yesterday that she wants to prevent publication of the meeting to protect her own privacy. "She is also sincerely sorry about the surreptitious recording of the meeting with her aunt and that she does not want to betray the trust bestowed on her."