May 3, 1938
Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia and his bride, Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, arrived today at Doorn, following their civil and Orthodox marriages yesterday in Potsdam, They are 'still considered unmarried, according to the austere Lutheran views" of the former Kaiser Wilhelm II.
A Lutheran marriage ceremony will take place tomorrow, and will be performed by Pastor Doering, the former Kaiser's court chaplain.
Most of those who were present at Potsdam yesterday arrived this morning in the Netherlands by two special trains and were welcomed at the station by the Governor of the Utrecht province, representing Queen Wilhelmina.
Wilhelm II awaited his guests at the main entrance of his home, Haus Doorn. He was "visibly moved: when "a huge gray automobile halted and one after another of his five sons stepped out, followed by their wives and children. Members of Kira's family followed, and then Prince Louis Ferdinand, who is Wilhelm's favorite grandson, and his bride, "although smiling happily, looked nervous," arrived at Doorn.
Guests "were astonished to see scarcely any civilians along the route" due to the "stronger police measures" for Grand Duke Kirill, pretender to the former Russian throne. The Grand Duke is the father of the bride.
Tonight a gala dinner was held at Haus Doorn. Crown Princess Juliana sat between the Kaiser and the former Crown Prince Wilhelm, the father of the groom. Juliana's husband, Prince Bernhard, sat next to the Kaiser's wife, Hermine. A reception followed the dinner," at which the glamor imperial courts returned for a day."
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