Come and meet the Grand Duke

January 9, 1904

The Grand Duke of Saxe-Altenburg announced today that he will "give an audience" to his subjects on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until noon, reports the New York Times. Those who wish to be "received by the Grand Duke" must send their names to the Court Marshal in advance.

The Grand Duke is not the first German sovereign to meet and greet his subjects.  A "considerable flutter was caused" when the Regent of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach "adopted public audience days."

Germany's "older aristocracy" has not approved of such modern ideas, as they feel it diminishes the "dignity of the Sovereign," and a move "toward republicanism."