Dutch king reveals double life as airline pilot

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has let slip that he has been secretly flying passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flights for more than two decades.

The avid aviator spoke about his double life to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, saying he found flying "simply fantastic". He has co-piloted KLM planes twice a month for 21 years without his passengers realising.

Calling his part-time role a "hobby", the king said he used flying to decompress from his royal duties.

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"You have an aircraft, passengers and crew. You have responsibility for them. You can't take your problems from the ground into the skies. You can completely disengage and concentrate on something else. That, for me, is the most relaxing part of flying," he said.

The 50-year-old father of three became king of the Netherlands in 2013, when his mother, Beatrix, abdicated, but has continued his other job in the cockpit.

He told De Telegraaf he was rarely recognised wearing his KLM cap and uniform and that he never uses his name while addressing passengers, although some have recognised his voice.

"Most people don't listen anyway," he added.

KLM's Fokker 70 aircraft are being replaced this year with Boeing 737s, which Willem-Alexander says he will also learn to fly.

The Dutch royal family is renowned for being firmly egalitarian. Its members do normal jobs, cycle to official events and send their children to state schools.