fairy
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Mourning attire differs a bit in certain countries and with different religions (cath-vs luth.) and of course with age and relation between mourner and deceased.
The widows cap is indeed something that Victoria brought into fashion.
Usually a period of strict mourning was regarded for the death of a husband or a father, which lasted around 6-12 months depending on the religiosity of the family. Adult mourners wore black, at the end dark grey was accepted. After this period, the family went into half mourning, women were allowed to wear very dark colours such as dark grey, dark brown and purple.
As women would traditionally cover their hair with hats and caps in polite society (and most others just as well) of course the widow would do so too. However since most hats and bonnets were quite adorned with embellishments, those would not do.
Veils on the other hand are deeply steeped in women's attire: a bride wears a veil for her wedding, a nun wears a veil, so to mark the transition into this new stage of womanhood, the widowhood, it makes sense that women turned to the veil again.
And to close the cycle: the bonnet in various drab colours but also white, marked the respectability of a grown-up woman. Again, the widows cap had to somewhat manage the balance between mourning (plain, somber) and showing off your status in society, your wealth and position.
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Principessa
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Principessa
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The year 1934 was a disastrous year for Wilhelmina. In late March Queen Emma died. Her husband Hendrik followed her in July. Prince Henrik had first proposed to hold a "white funeral. During the ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft was spoken about reincarnation. The color 'white' was associated with the new sunlight shone again during the funeral. This was seen as a call for new life.
After the white funeral of Hendrik Wilhelmina also chose the color white on her own funeral. She believed in the resurrection and had set some rules for her funeral. So she wanted an open Bible on her chest rather than signs of kingship. This was to be opened up to Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John.
Wilhelmina died at the palace Het Loo on 28 November 1962. The funeral took place on 8 December of the same year. She got the white funeral she wanted. Wilhelmina lay in a white coffin and the vehicle and the clothing of the horses of the funeral procession were white. The hearses carried the body of Wilhelmina from Het Loo palace to palace Het lange Voorhout in The Hague. By carriage, the coffin was brought to the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, where a funeral service was held.
The funeral was not only special because of the style, but also because it was the first royal funeral that was broadcast live on a large scale and on Dutch national television. After the public portion Wilhelmina was carried into the crypt, where the family could take silent farewell without the cameras.
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Principessa
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Remind Wilhelmina was only 10 years old when her father died and she succeeded him. With the first years, untill adulthood with her mother queen Emma (née princess of Waldeck Pyrmont) as the regentesse. As I have to believe the stories, Emma was beloved in the Netherlands. Wilhelmina comes across a bit more sturdy, with enough pain and suffering in her life. Among others several miscarriages, eventually only one child Juliana. A husband prince Hendrik (née prince Heinrich of Mecklenburg Schwerin) with a roving eye. There have been stories of his illigitimate off spring in NL (by the was son in law prince Bernhard (née prince of Lippe Biesterfeld) seemed to do the same). Wilhelmina became an iconic figure based on her behaviour and all around and during WWII. But currently in tthe past years several (semi, amateur) historians doubt this image of Wilhelmina
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Seagull
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Those were the days when monarchies were still useful. It's very sad, but seems like the WWII had made some European royal houses more popular than they really deserve to be.
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“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
Buddha
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Principessa
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Those were the days when monarchies were still useful. It's very sad, but seems like the WWII had made some European royal houses more popular than they really deserve to be.
Some seemed to know how to "profit" from this very sad event in the world history. Bernhard also had a kind of time of his life...…. |
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Peeps
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My first post here, after many years lurking!
My father was an officer in the Dutch Army in the post-war years (being attached to Prince Bernhard apparently, and shooting a lot of pictures of the family) and now and again he had an audience with Queen Wilhelmina.
He and the other officers were always trembling in their boots at the prospect of meeting her, as she was so formidable.
When getting ready to meet the Queen on one occasion there was Princess/Queen/Princess Beatrix at the top of the stairs with her waterpistol…..
Apparently Queen Wilhelmina was not fazed by some dripping wet officer entering her office, as she knew Beatrix loved to waterpistol guests of her grandmother.
All hearsay, could have been another Princess (my father died 40 years ago, so can’t ask anymore) but for some reason I can sort of picture it!
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anastasia beaverhausen
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My first post here, after many years lurking!
My father was an officer in the Dutch Army in the post-war years (being attached to Prince Bernhard apparently, and shooting a lot of pictures of the family) and now and again he had an audience with Queen Wilhelmina.
He and the other officers were always trembling in their boots at the prospect of meeting her, as she was so formidable.
When getting ready to meet the Queen on one occasion there was Princess/Queen/Princess Beatrix at the top of the stairs with her waterpistol…..
Apparently Queen Wilhelmina was not fazed by some dripping wet officer entering her office, as she knew Beatrix loved to waterpistol guests of her grandmother.
All hearsay, could have been another Princess (my father died 40 years ago, so can’t ask anymore) but for some reason I can sort of picture it!
That’s a great story. Welcome Peeps!  |
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Principessa
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My first post here, after many years lurking!
My father was an officer in the Dutch Army in the post-war years (being attached to Prince Bernhard apparently, and shooting a lot of pictures of the family) and now and again he had an audience with Queen Wilhelmina.
He and the other officers were always trembling in their boots at the prospect of meeting her, as she was so formidable.
When getting ready to meet the Queen on one occasion there was Princess/Queen/Princess Beatrix at the top of the stairs with her waterpistol…..
Apparently Queen Wilhelmina was not fazed by some dripping wet officer entering her office, as she knew Beatrix loved to waterpistol guests of her grandmother.
All hearsay, could have been another Princess (my father died 40 years ago, so can’t ask anymore) but for some reason I can sort of picture it!
I totally agree, that is a great story!! |
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Principessa
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Found in Dutch news today: https://www.nu.nl/binnenl...hooggeplaatste-nazis.htmlRough translation: According to her Foreign Minister Eelco van Kleffens, Queen Wilhelmina asked at the end of the Second World War whether an exchange with the Nazis was possible, Dutch newspaper Trouw reports Tuesday. Trouw relies on "Majesty, You do not know real life", a collection of original war diaries by Van Kleffens that will be published on Tuesday. Van Kleffens writes in his diary that Wilhelmina was worried about the fate of the Belgian king Leopold III who was being held captive by the Germans with his family in Austria. In March 1945, according to Van Kleffens, she asked if he could scan whether high-ranking Nazis were interested in an escape route, in exchange for the release of the Belgian royal family. Dutch sources do not provide a definitive answer about what happened to Wilhelmina's request. Leopold III and his family survived the war. |
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