December 18, 1909
The Washington Post reports that "royal marriages do not affect international relations as they once did, but they have their influence."
Royal families "make more fuss" over sons than daughters. German Emperor Wilhelm II would be better off he had more daughters. He has six sons and one daughter. He does have female cousins, but it is more "satisfying to a monarch or a Prince to marry daughters and granddaughters of a King or Emperor than his cousins."
Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain is a granddaughter of the late Queen Victoria, which means Spain has become a "virtual ally" of the United Kingdom. Portugal may find itself in the same position if King Manoel is able to marry a British princess, perhaps Princess Patricia of Connaught, another granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
King Edward VII's daughter, Maud, is married to King Haakon VII of Norway. Princess Patricia's older sister, Princess Margaret, is married to the Crown Prince of Sweden.
Two more granddaughters of Victoria, Princess Alix of Hesse and By Rhine, and Princess Sophie of Prussia, are married to the Russian Emperor and King of the Hellenes, respectively.
Queen Elena of Italy, the consort of King Vittorio Emanuele, "inherits hostility toward Austria with her Montenegrin blood. She has said to have played a role in Italy's weakened ties with the triple alliance. Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who is German and French, and is a close relation of King Manoel.
Most of the European sovereigns have found brides outside Germany. King Edward VII "has played his cards well," as "daughters and granddaughters and nieces are cheaper than Dreadnoughts."
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