King/Grand Duke Willem III (1817-1890) Queen Sophie (1818-1877) and sons

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King Willem III (1817-1890), Queen Sophie (1818-1877) and sons

This thread is about King Willem III Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijkof The Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince of Oranje-Nassau etc etc, (Brussels, Feb 19, 1817 - Het Loo, Apeldoorn, Nov 24, 1890) and Queen Sophie Friederike Mathilde of The Netherlands, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Princess of Oranje-Nassau, Princess of Wurttemberg, (Stuttgart, June 17 1818 - The Hague, June 7, 1877)

Parents Willem: King Willem II of The Netherlands and Queen Anna Pavlovna of The Netherlands, nee Grand Duchess of Russia.

Parents Sophie: King Willem I of Wurttemberg and Queen Catharina Pavlovna of Wurttemberg, nee Grand Duchess of Russia.

Children Willem and Sophie: Prince Willem, Prince Maurits and Prince Alexander.

Second wife Willem III: Queen Adelheid Emma Wilhelmine Therese, nee Princess of Waldeck-Pyrmont

Daughter of Willem and Emma: Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands

Siblings Willem: Prince Alexander, Prince Casimir, Prince Hendrik of The Netherlands and Grand Duchess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

(Half-)Siblings Sophie: Princess Marie of Wurttemberg, Countess of Neipperg, Princess Katharina of Wurttemberg, King Karl I of Wurttemberg,
Princess Auguste of Saxe-Weimar.

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painting left: King Willem III's enthronement painting
painting right: Queen Sophie painted by Francois Xavier Winterhaller

Note 1: All the pictures posted from post 1-20 are free of copyrights, unless stated differently.

Note 2: Most pictures were originally posted by Thijs at the Alexander Palace Forums

 

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King Willem III (I)

King Willem III (from wikipedia)

William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis of Orange-Nassau) (Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk van Oranje-Nassau, Koning der Nederlanden en Groothertog van Luxemburg in Dutch) (February 19, 1817 – November 23, 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1849–1890).

William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and Queen Anna, daughter of TsarPaul I of Russia and Empress Mari Fyodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg). In his early years, he served in the military.
He married his first cousin Sophie, daughter of King William I of Württemberg and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, in 1839. This marriage was unhappy and was characterized by struggles about their children. Sophie was a liberal intellectual, hating everything leaning toward dictatorship, such as the army. William was simpler, more conservative, and loved the military. He prohibited intellectual exercise at home, for which action Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who corresponded with Sophie, called him an uneducated farmer. (His extramarital enthusiasms, however, led the New York Times to call him "the greatest debauchee of the age".) Another cause of marital tension (and later political tension) was his capriciousness; he could rage against someone one day, and be extremely polite the next.

read more about Willem III in this wikipedia article.

 

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King Willem III (2)

 

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Picture above left: King Willem III aka King Gorilla around 1880
Picture above right: King Willem III and his second wife Princess Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont
Picture below: King Willem III in one of the last years of his life

 

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Queen Sophie (from wikipedia)

Sophia Frederika Mathilde van Württemberg (17 June1818 – 3 June1877) was the first wife of King William III of the Netherlands.
She was born in Stuttgart, her parents were King William I of Württemberg and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, the fourth eldest daughter of TsarPaul I. Sophie and William (as her and William’s mother Queen Anna Paulowna were sisters) are first cousin. Shortly after Sophie’s birth, her mother died, and she was cared for by her aunt, Catharina of Württemberg.
Prior to her marriage, King Otto of Greece and Duke William of Brunswick were possible suitors for Princess Sophie. Political complications put a stop to the engagement with the first because Sophie's father had no confidence in the newly established Greek monarchy. Change prevented a proposal by the scond candidate because it was rumored that Sophie had already been bethored.

Read more about Queen Sophie in this wikipedia article

 

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Sophie

 

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The man above is the Duke of Brunswick, with whom Sophie fell in love. Sadly he had to give way for theheir to the more prestigious Dutch crown.

 

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Queen Sophie

 

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Queen Sophie

 

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Crownprince Willem (from wikipedia)

Prince William of Orange, Prince of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau (Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik) (The Hague, September1840 – Paris, 11 June1879), was from 17 March1849 until his death the heir apparent of his father King William III of the Netherlands.

Prince William was the oldest son of King Willem III of the Netherlands and his first wife, Queen Sophie. His nickname was Wiwill. In 1849, after the death of his grandfather King Willem II of the Netherlands, he became the heir apparent. His Victorian upbringing turned out to be a disaster. His tutor punished him because of his masturbation, something that led to feelings of shame and of guilt. But he was said to possess a sharp mind.

After the failed plans for a marriage between Prince William and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, the second eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, the prince fell in love with the noblewoman named Mathilde van Limburg Stirum. The relationship between the prince and his parents became very problematic, as the parents refused to accept Mathilde as his bride.

Read more about Wiwill in this wikipedia article

 

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Willem (2)

 

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Prince Maurits

 

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Prince Alexander (from madmonarchs)

The engagement and marriage of the Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta has resulted in a hype in The Netherlands. Hardly anyone, however, remembers the previous Dutch Crown Prince. His name was Alexander and he lived in the 19th century. He had progressive ideas and scientific and cultural interests, but he was also his mother's darling. After his mother's death he became extremely melancholic. He locked himself up in his residence, leaving only to visit his mother's vault.

Crown Prince Willem Alexander Karel Hendrik Frederik of The Netherlands (1851-1884) was the youngest son of King Willem III of The Netherlands (1817-1890) and his first cousin Sophie of Württemberg (1818-1877) . Around his birth on August 25, 1851, his parents were already fighting like cat and dog. King Willem did not hesitate to whip his wife with his riding whip. Queen Sophie had often trouble hiding the scratches and bruises inflicted by her husband. Sophie was an intellectual, progressive in thoughts, but melodramatic in behaviour. Willem could be jovial, but he was also hot-tempered, coarse and capricious . Both were pig-headed and Sophie's snobbery brought out the worst in Willem.

Read more of about Alexander in this article from madmonarchs.

 

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Alexander (2)

 

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Family relations

The relations of Queen Sophie with her Dutch in-laws was never to good. Sophie and her mother-in-law and aunt, Queen Anna Paulowna had an open dislike for each other. Anna seemed to reflect the dislike she had for her sister Katherine on Katherine's daughter Sophie. Sophie on the other hand always disliked all her Russian and Prussian relatives, Queen Anna being no exception. The only person in the family she had a somewhat close relationship with was the freemason Prince Frederik, second son of King Willem I and uncle of her husband. Sophie writes in her memoires however that she suspected that Prince Frederik was in love with her and by some it was said that the two were lovers, a rumour not based on any evidence though.

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Below: A painting of the Dutch Royal family around 1860. Standing in the middle is King Willem III, next ro him is his wife Sophie. The other lady who is sitting is Princess Marie of Wied, daughter of Prince Frederik. She is holding her eldest son. The three men on the left are Prince Hendrik, Prince Frederik and the Fuert of Wied, Frederiks son-in-law. The gentlemen on the right are princes Alexander and Willem, sons of the King and Queen.

 

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Queen Sophie's family (I)

Drawing above: King Wilhelm I of Wurttemberg and his family. Above you see the King and his 3rd wife Queen Pauline. The young man is their son Karl. Below him are Princess Sophie and her sister Princess Marie (Countess of Neipperg) and completely below are Princesses Katherine and Pauline of Wurttemberg.
Painting below right: King Wilhelm I of Wurttemberg, father of Queen Sophie.
Drawing below left: King Wilhelm I of Wurttemberg, father of Queen Sophie.

 

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Queen Sophie's family (II)

The relations between Sophie and her sister-in-law Olga was rather cool. Sophie found her Russian sister-in-law to pushy and she thought that Olga overpowered her (weak) husband completely. The Russian background of Olga didn't help their relations either, Sophie disliked all her Russian relatives and named them cold, haughty, aloof etc.

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Painting above left: Queen Pauline of Wurttemberg with her eldest daughter Katherine, stephmother and half-sister of Queen Sophie
Buste above right: A buste of Princess Katherine of Wurttemberg,m half-sister of Queen Sophie
Picture middle left: King Karl I of Wurttemberg, half-brother of Queen Sophie
Painting middle right: Queen Olga Nicolaievna of Wurttemberg, sister-in-law of Queen Sophie
Painting below: Queen Pauline of Wurttemberg, wearing a magnificent tiara that is still owned by the Wurttemberg family today.

 

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Queen Sophie's family (III)

Picture above left: Queen Pauline of Wurttemberg, stephmother of Queen Sophie
Painting above right: Queen Olga Nicolaievna of Wurttemberg, sister-in-law of Queen Sophie
Painting below: Princess Katherine of Wurttemberg, half-sister of Queen Sophie

 

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Queen Sophie's salon in Palace Noordeinde, around 1870:

 

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Queen Sophie was a very intellectual woman who felt lost in The Hague (everything happens here 50 years later). She used to correspond with politicians from all over Europe and with many authors, artists etc. too. Perhaps the only thing she and her husband had in common is that they both were anti-Prussian and in favour of Napoleon III. With Sophie her teenage crush on the King of Rome (son of Napoleon I) might be one of the reasons of her pro-Bonaparte stand, as might be the marriage of her aunt Catherine to Jerome, King of Westphalia (youngest brother of Napoleon I).

Sophie wrote various (anonimous) articles for mainly French newspapers and during her life she alse published her memoires, which aren't to positive about her husband and her mother-in-law. In the 80-ties J.W. Jackman and Hella Haasse composed a book out of the correspondence between Queen Sophie and Lady Malet, which is called 'A Stranger in The Hague' and is also available in english.

 

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In the late 90-ties the public channel KRO aired a television series called 'Wij Alexander' which was about the strange youngest son of King Willem III and Queen Sophie, Prince Alexander.
More information in Dutch can be found here or here.

 

[Martha]

Does Everybody Know what happen with Queen Sophie´ Sons?, because She was the first wife.

 

[Marengo]

Well, all sons died without issue. The middle son, Maurice, died when he was around 10 years old. the others were adults when they died and the court tried to get them to marry a foreign princess several times, but both weren' t to willing. Because of this the old King had to remarry, as did his brother Prince Hendrik. Both married women who could have been their granddaughters (Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont and Marie of Prussia respectively). Perhaps somebody else can inform us of what illnesses the 3 princes died?

 

[lucien]

It's still not quite sure as of what cause Wiwill died,but it is presumed that his lifestyle wasn't that healthy,drinking heavily was one,contracting syphilus didn't help either.He wished to marry Mathilde van Limburg Stirum,and just and only her.His father was very much against this,moreover,it was rumoured that chèr Mathilde was Willem III daughter,from one of his extra marital affairs.So that was out of the question.

Wiwill and his father clashed on nearly everything,especially on their respective views on politics,and last but certainly not least,the marital disaster of the King and Queen.Wiwill took his mothers side,something the King didn't take lightly.These clashes let to Wiwill's departure to Paris,and he refushed to return,frustrated,disilusioned and indulging in all Paris had to offer.....There's also the story he died from the injury after a duel,but that has never been confirmed.A once promising but sad figure in the end.The King had really to be talked over to even attend his funeral,which he did,but got out of the church as quick as he could.Alexander couldn't stop crying.

Brother Alexander had always been of a delicate health,a bit of a hunchback,suffering from astma,and spoiled by his mother,he was the apple of her eye,all in all reason enough for the King to detest him.Really detest him,and the feeling was mutual.No one and nothing could comfort him as Queen Sofie died,followed by his brother Willem two years later.He lived a very secluded life,almost drenched in melancholy/mourning,seeing hardly anyone,and time and time again he was in the crypt in Delft weeping over his mothers and brother's coffins.The combination of intens sorrow of which he couldn't let go and his deteriorating health due to astma/bronchitis and probably diabetes,ultimately let to his lonely early death.The story of both men is too sad for words really.

Both never met Emma,the first died to soon,the other refused to see her,and on the day of the wedding of the King and Queen Emma,had his windows blinded,as a sign of mourning.Nonetheless it was Queen Emma who tryed to reconcile father and son,to no avail.Even when his sister Wilhelmina was born,he refused any contact.On Alexander's funeral there was a wreath from Emma.

Later,Queen Wilhelmina often referred to the "three of us" meaning Wiwill,Alexander and herself,but none had ever met,she must have missed siblings,very much so,as her autobiography reveals,for a number of reasons,by the title alone.

 

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Was she referring to the three or to the four of us, as Prince Maurits was there too. Where did he die from? I know he died when Princess Louise was about to marry the Swedish crownprince.

After Alexander died the court tried to prevent any sign of 'intelectualness' with Wilhelmina, which might be one of the reasons why she received an almost inhumane upbringing.

 

[lucien]

Was she referring to the three or to the four of us, as Prince Maurits was there too. Where did he die from? I know he died when Princess Louise was aboutt to marry the Swedish crownprince.

After Alexander died the court tried to prevent any sign of 'intelectualness' with Wilhelmina, which might be one of the reasons why she received an almost inhumane upbringing.

Oddly enough she referred to the three of us,probably since poor Maurits died decades before,and thus referred only to the two of her,or almost,times.

Maurits probably died of meningitis,as he had gradually increasing symptoms towards that direction.He suddenly developed fever in early may 1850,but doctors couldn't agree on the cause at first.Later Queen Sophie wished her choice of doctors at the boy's bedside,but the King insisted on having his,doctor Vinkhuyzen and Count van Bylandt.

Their miserable marriage went as far as creating havoc on who was in charge of the boy's health,but when he died on june 4th 1850,157 years ago,both parents were overcome with grief,and Queen Sophie blamed the King for not having her,far superiour,doctors at Maurits bedside,she blamed him for Maurits death.His funeral in Delft was on june 10th,according to the tradition of that time,without the parents.Dignitaries if the Court replaced them.

Louise became engaged on may 22nd,lots of festivities,as her parents Prince Frederik and Princess Louise celebrated their Silver Wedding anniversary at the same time.But all the partying came to an abrupt end with Maurits death.

By that time the Crown Prince of Sweden was already on his way back to Stockholm,ahead of his bride to be.

In august 1851 Alexander was born,the baby that replaced Maurits,if that's possible.The birth was to prove to the Nation that there were no difficulties between TM.They (unofficially,aka,scheiding van tafel en bed)seperated in 1855.A divorce was out of the question.

 

[Martha]

Thanks for the information. I think is very interesting. I had read that Queen was younger than King William. They had one daughter (Queen Willermina).

 

[Marengo]

King Willem III remarried after his wife Sophie died. He married Princess Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont, who was about 40 years younger then him. The couple indeed got one daughter, Wilhelmina.

 

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Their miserable marriage went as far as creating havoc on who was in charge of the boy's health,but when he died on june 4th 1850,157 years ago,both parents were overcome with grief,and Queen Sophie blamed the King for not having her,far superiour,doctors at Maurits bedside,she blamed him for Maurits death.His funeral in Delft was on june 10th,according to the tradition of that time,without the parents.Dignitaries if the Court replaced them.
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Were Sophie's doctors really superior or was it her usual snobbery towards the Dutch (combined with immense grief of course)?

Was it traditional for parents not to attend their own childs funeral? Or just for royal parents? I never heard of that before.
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Thanks for the most informative reply btw.