Mr. Newel to Mr. Hay.
The Hague, February 9, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm herewith my cablegramb of the 7th instant announcing the marriage of Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with Duke Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The festivities in connection with the royal ceremony commenced on the 22d ultimo, at which date the formal notice of the purposed royal wedding was given at the city hall. This event was hailed by a general display of flags from all the Government and public buildings, the various foreign legations and ministers’ residences, and a large number of private houses.
[Page 417]From last Monday, the 4th instant, the city has been en fête, all the principal thoroughfares being gaily decorated during the day and illuminated at night.
On that day the soldiers donned their full tenue, and in the afternoon an enormous band of musicians, representing music corps and societies from all parts of the country, assembled before the palace with their varied-colored banners and played the national anthem and popular airs. Immediately after they marched in procession through the town, while the Queen received in audience delegates from the provinces who tendered the felicitations of their respective districts. Early in the evening the Queen was serenaded by a very large company of vocalists selected from the best singers of The Hague and Rotterdam, the houses were lighted up with illuminations and the thousands of people who thronged the streets were in ecstacies in their rejoicing over the great coming event. While everything was at its brightest the two Queens, accompanied by the Duke, proceeded to the railway station to welcome the foreign princes and immediate relatives on their arrival in The Hague.
On Tuesday, the 5th instant, the Queen granted an audience to the chiefs of the foreign missions and the representatives of various corporations, that they might present their last felicitations and wedding gifts. Early in the afternoon other musical bodies greeted the Queen in song from the palace gardens, and at the termination thereof the royal party drove through the city and neighborhood in full state. At night there was a gala dinner at the palace, to which were invited all the foreign ministers, the court officials, in addition to all the royal guests, and immediately upon the close the whole company attended at the opera house, where a special musical display was given in honor of the occasion. After the theater the royal guests, the court and some of the Dutch people were entertained at the German legation, where the German minister had prepared an elaborate soirée. No member of the diplomatic corps, except the Russian minister and two others, was invited.
On Wednesday, shortly after noon, there was a large procession of a great many trades and artisans before the palace and through the town, after which the royal party again drove through the streets and vicinity, accompanied, as on the preceding day, by a full escort. That evening there was a grand soirée at the palace, to which all the diplomatic corps, the élite, and military were invited, and at which some of the leading members of Dutch society gave a series of tableaux vivants, representative of graphic pictures from the history of the houses of the Orange and Mecklenburg families.
The wedding morning was an exceptionally fine one, the route to the church was crowded hours before the ceremony took place with an expectant and glad throng of people, and at every point of vantage eager spectators were to be observed. The civil part of the ceremony took place at the palace, the minister of justice, assisted by the secretary of the city corporation, being the officiating functionaries, while the presidents of the States-General, the court of justice, the council of state, the chief officer of the court, and an important military officer acted as witnesses, the only attendants being the nearest family relatives. From the palace the wedding party proceeded to the church in a stately procession. The route was lined by soldiers and police and an eager and exulting crowd. Long before the arrival of the Sovereign [Page 418] the diplomatic corps in full force, the members of the States-General, together with the élite of the whole country and a large press representation had assembled to witness the public performance in the church. From beginning to end there was nothing to mar the general gayety and pleasure of the occasion.
The ceremony in the “Groote Kerk” was singularly beautiful and impressive, and reached its climax when at the close of the marriage service the officiating Dutch Reformed clergyman, Mr. van der Flier, made the customary present of a Bible to the royal bride, who was standing radiant in the sunlight, which for an instant streamed in at the windows. It seemed to me as I looked around that there were no dry eyes in the church.
The return to the palace was as grand and enthusiastic as the procession thither.
At 4 o’clock the royal pair started for the palace in the country, “Het Lee,” where they pass the honeymoon, making their next appearance in Amsterdam at the beginning of March next.
The universal approval of this love match is very touching, and I am told that the people believe that the “orange weather” (fine weather) during the service is a sure sign of a happy married life.
A few days prior to the wedding Duke Hendrik was by royal order appointed rear-admiral of the Netherlands navy, lieutenant-general of the Netherlands army and of the Colonial army, all three appointments being a la suite, and therefore honorary. Immediately after the marriage a special issue of the Netherlands Gazette appeared announcing the marriage and containing two royal orders, whereby the duke was proclaimed a prince of the Netherlands, and conferring upon him the right to act as advisory member of the Netherlands council of state.
At the audience of the 5th instant Her Majesty the Queen wishes me to thank the President for his kindness and to express her gratitude for the many evidences of good will and sympathy which she had received from the American people.
I have, etc.,
- Printed ante.↩