Abdication of Queen Beatrix & Inauguration of Willem-Alexander: Suggestions & Musings

[MARG]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Will the robe to be worn by WA need to be extended since the time Beatrix wore it? He is after all considerably taller than his mother and it may appear much shorter on him than when she wore it in 1980?

Perhaps they will just recycle the robe of the last King of the Netherlands. It's not like it's been used more than once or was it too recycled?

[Marengo]

Note that in the old design the front part doesnt reach the floor: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...man_(1856).jpg

The robe was significantly shortened for Queen Wilhelmina in 1898. They also made the upper part rounder, so it would fit the (small) shoulders of the new Queen.

In 1999 the follwing story became clear. After Wilhemina's inauguration the mantle had been stored in an iron box. When they opened it in 1948 the robe was in a bad state. The red velvet had lost it's colour and the ermine turned yellowish. Erwin Dolder, the Swiss designer of Queen Juliana had his own atelier in the Palace in Amsterdam. He decided, without informing the Queen or court, to make a new robe. He did use the 83 golden lions of the old mantle for it, but the velvet and ermine were new. He only told this to the court one day before the actual enthronement. Dolder also made the dress and cap ('juliette') of Queen Juliana.

Erwin Dolder also made dresses for Edith Piaf and Zarah Leander. In the early fifties he went to Argentina in the hope of becoming dress maker of Evita. This didn't work out and by 1952 he was back in The Netherlands. He made Juliana's Prinsjesdag outfits of 1955 and 1956.

To dress the frugal Juliana, Dolder was afraid to charge Juliana for extra costs. He wasn't very good with finances in general and by 1956 he had accumulated a lot of debts. Queen Juliana couldn't use a scandal with her dress maker while she was in the middle of the Greet Hofmans scandal. Dolder's working permit was not prolongued and he was quietly escorted to the border by the royal marechaussee. He moved back to Basel, where he was seen in the local gay bars, wearing an adapted version of the old robe. He died in 1970. Nobody knows what happened to the robe after his death.

So to awnser your question: they can't use the old robe to alter the present one, it has probably been thrown away. Or with some luck somebody can find it in a second hand clothing store in Basel .

--
However after the inhauguration of Juliana the robe was once again wrapped around a bar and stored in an iron box. Six months before the inhauguration of Queen Beatrix, the box was brought to Theresia Vreugdenhil, dress maker of Beatrix. When she unwrapped the robe, she discovered that the velvet was very wrinkled and the velvet left red stains on the ermine. With some efforts the velvet could be made stain free but some ermine had to be replaced. Vreugdenhil wanted to use old ermine, as the colour difference would be smaller. She was helped by one of her clients, a Mrs. Brenninkmeijer (of the C&A family), who offered and old ermine coat.

Note that the RVD never confirmed these stories.

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

If they do not take the oath can they still take their seat in Parliament?

Yes they can. In 1980, 1948 and 1890 several MP's didn't attend the ceremony either. I would rather have them stay home than scream whatever they want. In 1993 the Belgian MP Jean-Pierre van Rossum shouted "Vive la république d'Europe! Vive Lahaut" during the oath ceremony of King Albert II. Lahaut was an MP who shouted "Vive la république" during the oath ceremony of King Baudouin.

[Artemisia]

Thank you for the very interesting stories, Marengo!
I have always assumed the mantles worn by Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix was the same one, albeit after certain remodelling and restoration.

[jneugeba]

How interesting! Perhaps they should not store it in this iron box any more.

[royalistbert]

Well maybe they put the robe on display.

[paola]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

If they do not take the oath can they still take their seat in Parliament?

The only thing that an elected (by the people) member of parliament has to do to take his seat when he is elected, is to take an oath on the constitution and (the laws) of the state.(not on the king) And first they take an oath that they did not took gifts or money to become elected and that they will not take gifts or money to vote in another way than their own continence sais to do.

At the inauguration of Willem-Alexander they wil be asked to swear:
"We swear (promise) that we will maintain your integrity and the rights of your kingship ".

Not willing to do that is a right they have. I can imagine and respect reasons of principle not to do so. Just as I respect the reasons why people do decide take that oath.
So come on lets make it a nice day, accept it,and do not judge other peoples principles

[NGalitzine]

I wasn't questioning their motives which were obvious I just wondered about the process. In some other countries MPs must take an oath of allegiance to the monarch before sitting as an MP which is why I asked if it was the same in The Netherlands. Thanks for answering.

[paola]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

I wasn't questioning their motives which were obvious I just wondered about the process. In some other countries MPs must take an oath of allegiance to the monarch before sitting as an MP which is why I asked if it was the same in The Netherlands. Thanks for answering.

I know that. Please do not take it personally.
The last comment is not personal to you intended NGalitzine.
It was more of a comment by an irritation in General (and also inspired by remarks I read on other places on the internet).
A general sighing of a woman with principles, and I have included it in my post

I do sincerely hope that it will be a beautiful day for everybody.

[carlota]

i am happy to read the programme of the inauguration. i can't wait. it sounds super exciting!

i wonder if a reception for the foreign heads of state will be given the evening prior to the inauguration or if there will only be one reception at the evening of the 30th april.

i am hoping to see many heads of state around. when will the guest list be revealed?

[Dutchy]

Originally Posted by carlota

i am hoping to see many heads of state around. when will the guest list be revealed?

It´s not common to invite the heads of state for the inauguration, because it´s an internal state occasion. We can expect the most european crown princes and princesses, like Charles (or maybe William) from the Uk, Haakon from Norway, Frederik from Denmark etc. etc. and many country´s will send theire ambassadors. I don´t know when the guest list will be publiced, but I think a few weeks before the inauguration.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Dutchy

It´s not common to invite the heads of state for the inauguration, because it´s an internal state occasion. We can expect the most european crown princes and princesses, like Charles (or maybe William) from the Uk, Haakon from Norway, Frederik from Denmark etc. etc. and many country´s will send theire ambassadors. I don´t know when the guest list will be publiced, but I think a few weeks before the inauguration.

More like maybe the week before,but certainly not too long before the actual day..

Update on the program of the Abdication and Enthronement,couldn't post it at the appropiate thread as it is closed...

News - Het Koninklijk Huis

[lucien]

Many of the Orange societies that organize all the celebrations and festivities during Queensday were worried that too many people would prefer to stay home and watch the Abdication and Investiture on the telly so they'd be at loss with hardly anyone to attend all the planned festivities.In order to avoid seeing hardly anyone,they thought,they had plans to pull the Queensday celebrations forward to april 27th already,which is ofcourse the Prince of Orange's birthday and is in on a saturday this year.

Others stressed that it is important that celebrations everywhere go on on Queensday itself as planned.So yesterday the board of the Orange societies decided it best to indeed carry on as usual with the planning of all the fun on april 30th itself.Thank goodness I would say as it prevents too many people from coming to an already packed city of Amsterdam as the Mayor of Amsterdam stressed,and rightfully so.With over 1 million people on the streets,and then to have even more due to postponed or cancelled or pulled forward celebrations would be too much of a strain indeed and might not add to the fun,but contrary.

Moreover,the National Committee in charge of organizing and planning celebrations and festive moments during this specific April 30th,have issued a statement that there will be a seperate moment/event in which the Dutch can say their goodbyes to Queen,then Princess,Beatrix.I think it simular as in 1980 when there was a last and impressive defilé at Soestdijk Palace on May 31st instead of the birthday of Juliana on april 30th,as that was the day Beatrix ascended the Throne.So,the wheel doesn't have to be invented again,they can work on schedules from just 33 years ago.

And it will be wonderfull,and well earned,to highlight the Queen and person Beatrix was/is on a special organized day soon after the Abdication.

The National Committee will reveal all plans,schedules and festivities on occasion of the Abdication and Investiture in 2 weeks time

[lucien]

It emerged yesterday that the Royal Barge will not be used after all since it takes more then a bit of paint to get it afloat again..Odd....Why the hullabaloo over what we here call " blijmaken met een dooie mus"...Many were looking forward to see it in full use again,but alas..It will not be...

Instead the boat HM Queen Beatrix used to use on the night of the Freedom concerts on may 5th will be used for a tour of King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima on april 30th.

Also,the traditional Koninginnenacht "Queensnight",the party-night from april 29th to the 30th,will be followed by a Kingsnight from the 30th of april to the 1st of May here in Amsterdam.So celebrations all over.

[An Ard Ri]

Its a pity that the Dutch Royal Barge will not be used this time.

[kathia_sophia]

ohhh i was looking forward to the Royal Barge! i guess it was beyond repairs because of the short schedule

[lucien]

Originally Posted by kathia_sophia

ohhh i was looking forward to the Royal Barge! i guess it was beyond repairs because of the short schedule

Oh we all were kathia_sophia & An!!

There's a lot of contradiction on the Royal Barge and it be used or not on april 30th.

Mayor v/d Laan of Amsterdam stated the Barge would need much more then a bit of paint to get it seaworthy,now the Maritim Museum Amsterdam,where the Barge is at,claims today it can be ready within one and a halve week...!..But untill now,no request was made to get the old girl ready for april 30th according to the Museum in a statement today...Lotsa who's a,and what's what...

[An Ard Ri]

I must saw though I'm sad to see Queen Beatrix abdicate I am looking forward to the Investiture Ceremony of the new King on April 30th!

The King's royal mantle seems to be causing a bit of a sensation among some of us Royal watchers.

[lucien]

The Nieuwe Kerk wil start preparations for the Enthronement ceremony immediatly after Easter,so as off April 2nd.At present there's still an exhibition on the American Indian but that will be cut short until April 1st,the Second Easterday here,due to circumstances.
The Nieuwe Kerk will be closed for one month.

The theme for the Enthronement festivities will be "My Dream for Our Country,Inspiration for Our King" ,Kings Plays for schoolchildren,a Kings Hymne and a Book of Inspiration for the King are some of the things the National Committee came up with in the press conference this evening by its chairman,Hans Wijers...Well,after a month of thinking....

http://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?eventid=1435003

courtesy Jerry Lampen

[lucien]

The press conference by Mayor v/d Laan of Amsterdam on the festivities in the City on April 30th started just ten minutes ago.Will keep you posted

[Marengo]

The mayor talked a lot but had very little to say.

- No carriage ride
- No royal barge as the police feared that the boat would be too unstable (did they try???)
- No fireworks
- The day will cost the city of Amsterdam 7 million euros.
- What will happen is a boat ride over the IJ, in the enchanting (NOT!) harbor/ modern area of Amsterdam. They will go to the boat by bus.



I wish that the mayor would have specified what the difference in costs between this year and the previous year is. I don't think that a boat ride over the IJ will cost 7 million (albeit there will be some -undoubtably mediocre - 'cultural performances' along the route. And dispite the mayor's long speech it doesn't seem that there will be anything more than that.

Very disappointing, as was yesterday's announcement.