William Frederick of Orange Nassau
Heir to the throne is William Frederick George Lodewijk,
On March 17th in 1849 the second half of the nineteenth century Willem Alexander Paul Frederick Louis, Prince of Orange-Nassau became King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death in 1890 until the dissolution of the Dutch in 1866.
When he arrived in the South he was greeted by cheering people but he didn't respond which was very unusual.
His health declined even more in the South. The King could no longer do his job and suffered because he could hardly breath. When his son Hendrik came to visit his health improved but when his wife came to visit she was not allowed to see him.
The next day it suddenly went wrong Willem got an attack of shortness of breath. By himself he went to his doctor who told him to sit down in a chair where he died. For several days his wife spent hours with William's body in the room. Willem wanted to be embalmed and then buried in a wooden coffin. On 4 April he was buried in the Royal Tomb in Delft. William II was king until his death and was only 57 years old. He was succeeded by his son William III.
Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk as Crown Prince did not accept the new constitution of 1848 and was in constant conflict with his father. His grievance was that this new constitution drastically limited his royal power. On October 8 that year three days before the constitutional provision came into force he wrote to his sister that he was unable to bring this kind of state-dangerous principles into line with his conscience and his task.
"I have come to the following conclusion: to renounce irrevocably and forever in favor of my eldest son of my rights as Prince of Orange and of my rights to the Crown. "
His father tried to convince him that he was wrong by pointing out that the monarchy is a "divine calling" that he could not refuse but William remained at his point of view and even made a request dismiss him as lieutenant general of the infantry. His father also rejected this.
When his father died William was in England for a three-month stay. On the day of his father's death he was in Raby Castle When he got the news that his father had died he had been dead for a day. He was still persuaded to accept the Kingship. His inauguration took place on May 12, 1849.
The Kings health declined in 1888. In February 1889 he was no longer able to sign state documents with his initials and William was declared 'out of state' and the Council of State took over his duties.
William recovered and the regency was reversed. When he stayed at Paleis Het Loo his state of health got worse again. According to his doctor he had a stroke' and would no longer be able to leave the palace.
The king suffered from severe kidney disease and diabetes and became so confused that he started signing state papers with non existing made up names and always had to keep someone from the court near to him because he was afraid to be murdered in his sleep. In August 1890 he got another stroke and on 25 September his ten year old daughter saw him for the last time. William was again declared 'out of state' and the Council of State took up his duties for the second time. On November 20th his wife Emma took over the Royal authority. This regency lasted only a few days because on 23 November 1890 the King died at the age of 73 years old. The monarchy then passed to the ten-year-old Princess Wilhelmina for which Emma was sworn into regent on December 8, 1890 "during her marriage".
Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria (1880-1962) Wilhelmina is the first Queen of the Netherlands. She is born in The Hague on August 31, 1880. She is the only child from the marriage of King William III and his second wife Emma van Waldeck-Pyrmont
Queen Juliana is born on April 30, 1909. Queen Juliana resigns from the throne in 1980. Her daughter Beatrix follows her. There are then three generations of queens in the Netherlands. Juliana passed away in 2004
Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard(1938) When Queen Juliana announced during a televisoin interveuw that she wanted to leave the throne on April 20 in favor of her daughter Beatrix. Beatrix is celebrating her birthday on the same day.
(1967)
On 7 December 2003 Princess Catharina-Amalia the first daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima was born on June 26, 2005 their second daughter Princess Alexia was born the third daughter and Princess Ariane was born on 10 April 2007.
All pictures and information:
Netherlands Government Information Service
Other sources Dutch Monarchy
