Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Queen Beatrix makes short visit to Hesse

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has made a short visit to Hesse in Germany. She was at Schloss Arolsen, the home of the Prince and Princess of Waldeck und Pyrmont to see an exhibit about her great-grandmother, Queen Emma, who was born a princess of Waldeck und Pyrmont. The Queen was greeted by Prince Wittekind and his wife, Cecilia. The couple have three sons.

http://www.merkur-online.de/dpa/infoline/boulevard/art438,938845

The exhibition commemorates the 150 anniversary of Emma's birth. Emma was only 20-years-old when she married King Willem III of the Netherlands. The marriage took place at Schloss Arolsen in January 1879. The King had three sons by his first marriage. He was 41-years- older than Emma, and he died in 1890. None of his three sons survived him, and, thus, Willem was succeeded by his only daughter, ten-year-old, Wilhelmina. Emma acted as regent until her daughter reached her majority.