Queen Wilhelmita was enthroned in the New Church at Amsterdam
last Tuesday, walking from the Palace to the church, where she delivered, with a simplicity and fervour which greatly impressed those present, her address to the States- General and took her oath of allegiance to the Constitution. "I am happy and thankful," the Queen said, "to rule over the people of the Netherlands, who, although small in numbers, are great in virtue and strong by nature and character. I esteem it a great privilege that it is my life's task and duty to dedicate all my powers to the prosperity and interests of my dear fatherland ; and I adopt the words of my beloved father,--' Yes, Orange can never do enough for the Netherlands." After the Queen and the Queen-Mother- whose devotion to the Netherlands is fully recognised —the most striking figures at the ceremony were the Princes from the Dutch Indies. On returning to the Palace the Queen appeared on the balcony, and subse- quently drove through the streets amid scenes of enthusiasm quite extraordinary in so self-possessed a people as the Dutch. The spectacle of a girl Queen must always appeal to the chivalrous instincts of a nation, but this natural feeling is evidently enhanced by the charm, the dignity, and the earnestness of Queen Wilhelmina. Let us add that if only half the anecdotes current about her are true, she is not only a very engaging, but a very witty young woman. She is credited with several sayings which would have been applauded even in a commoner.
Previous page
