When the end of her second marriage was announced in February 2023, the separation from ex-husband Tjalling ten Cate seemed almost harmonious. But now Princess Margarita admits that her emotional state fell apart during the breakup.
“After a wonderful time of more than 16 years together, during which we shared joy and sorrow, each of us will now go our own way,” read the official statement when Princess Margarita, 52, and Tjalling ten Cate, 50, announced their split in early 2023. The niece of Princess Beatrix, 87, and the lawyer had been married for fifteen years. Their love was crowned by their two daughters, Julia, 16, and Paola, 14. But at some point, their small family happiness was no longer enough. Following the divorce, Margarita found herself on the brink of despair.
Princess Margarita Fell into a Deep Hole
She hid her inner turmoil for a long time. But now Margarita wants to publicly speak about how much the end of her second marriage shook her. “It takes a while to find your footing again; it’s a process,” she revealed in an interview with De Telegraaf. She sought help. “I took things very slowly, under the guidance of a psychologist. It was not easy. Sometimes I really drove myself crazy. How am I supposed to solve this? How can I manage alone? It was terrible at times.”
Her therapist took the cousin of King Willem-Alexander, 58, by the hand and helped her bring structure back into her life. “I greatly benefited from the rhythm I found in caring for my horses, in my work, and in sports. Sport was super important for me,” Margarita emphasizes — as were her closest confidants and her family. “That may seem obvious, but it is incredibly valuable,” she says.
“A New Chapter in My Life”
Today, Margarita is doing much better. She has found her rhythm again and is even open to a new romance. “But right now, I am so busy that I am genuinely satisfied,” she says, deflecting the idea of a new relationship. “I am full of joy again and have so much I want to do and create. This truly is a new chapter in my life — and I am enjoying it to the fullest.”
“Margarita Affair” Still Haunts Her
Margarita and Tjalling ten Cate tied the knot in May 2008. However, she had been married once before. From 2001 to 2006, she was married to Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn, 58. During their marriage, the entrepreneur clashed with the Dutch royal family. The scandal is still known in the Netherlands today as the “Margarita Affair.” Among other things, he accused the royal family and the Dutch secret service of obstructing his company’s business and wiretapping phone conversations. The accusations caused a major stir, resulting in Margarita being banned from attending the wedding of Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, 53. She was also unwelcome at the funeral of her uncle, Prince Claus of the Netherlands, †76.
