Long Live the King! Hurray Hurray Hurray!

Today 27th of April is our King's birthday and I find it quite special that I experience a King and two Queens in my life because there were three generations of Queens and again a Queen, the King oldest daughter will follow after the king her father. It is a big festival in Nederlands and many are dressed in Orange. The flags with orange winners go up and there are festivities throughout the country. In the years 2013 - 2015 our Kingdom exists for 200 years. Today I want to introduce you to our Kings throughout history what begins with King William the first.

The Netherlands which was part of the French Empire regained its freedom when Napoleon was defeated in 1813 and a constitutional redesign of Europe was brought about by the victors. After the proclamation of the Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands on November 20th 1813. The then Prince of Orange was inaugurated in Amsterdam as sovereign Prince and he accepted the sovereignty of this principality under the guarantee of a constitution.

At first this only concerned the Northern Netherlands. The association with the Southern Netherlands took place in 1814. After this merger of Belgium and the Netherlands "reunion intime et complète" William officially accepted the title of King of the Netherlands in March of 1815. He did this with the historical words: *"Our Fatherland is saved: The good old times will soon revive."* King William had many nicknames from his subjects. "King merchant" and "Canalkoning" refer to his investments in the Dutch economy and trade and also called him "Enlightened Despot" because he wanted to be a mighty King. They called him "William the stubborn" because it was difficult for him to deal with the independence of Belgium after the Belgian uprising of 1830. Despite the military success of the Ten-Day field Campaign he didn't win. The cause of Belgian resistance was because of William's repressive cultural policy in the area of language, education and religion. In 1840 he resigned at the age of 68 and three years later he died in Berlin.

In 1849 his father only became reluctant after some hesitation because he was not happy with the new liberal Constitution. For some years he tried to regain his power and sometimes he opposed against his ministers and lost more and more interest in politics. He also had to deal with private affairs like conflicts with his sons and with health problems. It went worse with him after his favorite son Alexander died and he also had problems with his successor and son William III.

He did not agree with his father that he would change the constitution. William III didn't want to become a king himself but changed his mind and later he did become the King. When William II spoke to the new House of Representatives it was noticed that his voice was weak and his health got even worse. Against the advice of his doctor he left to retreat in the South of the Netherlands he said goodbye to his wife and drove in a carriage to the harbour because he wanted to look at his new ship first before he went South. When he stepped out of his carriage he fell down the steps because his boot got stuck in his cloak. "It's nothing." he said and he moved on.

When he arrived in the South he was greeted by cheering people but he didn't respond which was very unusual.
His health declined even more in the South. The King could no longer do his job and suffered because he could hardly breath. When his son Hendrik came to visit his health improved but when his wife came to visit she was not allowed to see him.

The next day it suddenly went wrong Willem got an attack of shortness of breath. By himself he went to his doctor who told him to sit down in a chair where he died. For several days his wife spent hours with William's body in the room. Willem wanted to be embalmed and then buried in a wooden coffin. On 4 April he was buried in the Royal Tomb in Delft. William II was king until his death and was only 57 years old. He was succeeded by his son William III.

Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk as Crown Prince did not accept the new constitution of 1848 and was in constant conflict with his father. His grievance was that this new constitution drastically limited his royal power. On October 8 that year three days before the constitutional provision came into force he wrote to his sister that he was unable to bring this kind of state-dangerous principles into line with his conscience and his task.

"I have come to the following conclusion: to renounce irrevocably and forever in favor of my eldest son of my rights as Prince of Orange and of my rights to the Crown. "

His father tried to convince him that he was wrong by pointing out that the monarchy is a "divine calling" that he could not refuse but William remained at his point of view and even made a request dismiss him as lieutenant general of the infantry. His father also rejected this.

When his father died William was in England for a three-month stay. On the day of his father's death he was in Raby Castle When he got the news that his father had died he had been dead for a day. He was still persuaded to accept the Kingship. His inauguration took place on May 12, 1849.

The Kings health declined in 1888. In February 1889 he was no longer able to sign state documents with his initials and William was declared 'out of state' and the Council of State took over his duties.
William recovered and the regency was reversed. When he stayed at Paleis Het Loo his state of health got worse again. According to his doctor he had a stroke' and would no longer be able to leave the palace.

The king suffered from severe kidney disease and diabetes and became so confused that he started signing state papers with non existing made up names and always had to keep someone from the court near to him because he was afraid to be murdered in his sleep. In August 1890 he got another stroke and on 25 September his ten year old daughter saw him for the last time. William was again declared 'out of state' and the Council of State took up his duties for the second time. On November 20th his wife Emma took over the Royal authority. This regency lasted only a few days because on 23 November 1890 the King died at the age of 73 years old. The monarchy then passed to the ten-year-old Princess Wilhelmina for which Emma was sworn into regent on December 8, 1890 "during her marriage".

After Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk three Queens sat on the throne.

Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria (1880-1962) Wilhelmina is the first Queen of the Netherlands. She is born in The Hague on August 31, 1880. She is the only child from the marriage of King William III and his second wife Emma van Waldeck-Pyrmont



Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina(1909-2004) Everyone loves Juliana. She had her own ways she is quirky and she is close to the people.
Queen Juliana is born on April 30, 1909. Queen Juliana resigns from the throne in 1980. Her daughter Beatrix follows her. There are then three generations of queens in the Netherlands. Juliana passed away in 2004

Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard(1938) When Queen Juliana announced during a televisoin interveuw that she wanted to leave the throne on April 20 in favor of her daughter Beatrix. Beatrix is celebrating her birthday on the same day.

And in 2013 we are back to a King.


Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand
(1967)

and his Queen Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti(197)

On 7 December 2003 Princess Catharina-Amalia the first daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima was born on June 26, 2005 their second daughter Princess Alexia was born the third daughter and Princess Ariane was born on 10 April 2007.

All pictures and information:
Netherlands Government Information Service

Other sources Dutch Monarchy