The Dutch Monarchy The death of Prince Henry of the
Netherlands removes the only Prince Consort of modern times excepting the husband of Queen Victoria. The situation of the Dutch Monarchy is indeed remarkable. The widowed Queen Wilhelmina bas already reigned 44 years, and as she ascended the throne at the age of ten, she may yet beat Queen Victoria's record. But—and this is the striking difference—in the event of her death there is literally only one heir to the crown, and that is her single daughter ; so that, unless the dynasty is to become extinct, another reigning Queen and another Prince Consort are inevitable. The historian Freeman, impressed by the brilliant reigns of Queen Elizabeth, Queen Anne, and the Empress Catherine, as well as by his own sovereigns, once hazarded the theory that female monarchy is best, and that an " Anti-Salic Law " debarring males from succeeding would have much to commend it. It is not unplausible, at least where a monarchy is constitutional ; and the Dutch seem com- mitted to experiment in it for a very long time. Certainly one of the chief incidental difficulties is the thankless position of a Prince Consort ; in which neither Prince Albert nor Prince Henry was able, despite many virtues, to escape serious unpopularity at different times.
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