Category Archives: Royal Ceremonies, Events

Monaco – National Day of Monaco – November 19

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Prince Albert II of Monaco (center window) and the Princely Family of Monaco greeting the citizens of Monaco on November 19, 2010; Credit – Par Santiago Puig Vilado…, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53325247

The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince’s Day, is celebrated on November 19. It is a celebration of the Sovereign Prince or Sovereign Princess and the people of Monaco.

History

Prince Charles III of Monaco; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1857, Prince Charles III of Monaco (reigned 1856 – 1889) decided to establish November 4, the feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo, his patron saint, as Sovereign Prince’s Day to reaffirm the sovereignty of the Principality of Monaco. The day was celebrated with a Te Deum, a Latin hymn of praise, in the Church of Saint Nicholas, the first parish church in Monaco, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of sailors. The Church of Saint Nicholas was on the site of the current Cathedral of Monaco. During the reign of Prince Charles III, other celebrations were added including a procession to the church, the playing of the national anthem in the church, a military parade on Place du Palais, fireworks, a concert, and games.

When Prince Charles III died and was succeeded by his son Prince Albert I (reigned 1889 – 1922), Sovereign Prince’s Day was celebrated on November 15, the feast day of Saint Albert the Great, Prince Albert II’s patron saint. In 1922, when Prince Albert I’s son Prince Louis II (reigned 1922 – 1949) succeeded him, Louis departed from tradition. The feast day of his patron saint, Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France), was celebrated on August 25, during the summer, not an ideal time for celebrations. Instead, Sovereign Prince’s Day was held on January 17, the feast day of Saint Anthony the Great, the patronal saint of his granddaughter Princess Antoinette of Monaco. During the reign of Prince Louis II, the term National Festival began to be used which morphed into National Day.

Prince Louis II was succeeded by his grandson Prince Rainier III (reigned 1949 – 2005). Prince Rainier set National Day on November 19, the feast day of Blessed Rainier of Arezzo. When Prince Rainier III died in 2005, his son and successor Prince Albert II (reigned 2005 – present) decided to keep National Day on November 19 In memory of his father.

Celebrations

 

Celebrations start with a fireworks display over the harbor the night before.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene leaving the Cathedral of Monaco

On the morning of November 19, the extended Princely Family of Monaco attends a Te Deum (a Latin hymn of praise) and a Mass at the Cathedral of Monaco. After the Te Deum is sung, the Archbishop of Monaco says a prayer for the Sovereign Prince (or Sovereign Princess) in Latin, currently, Domine, salvum fac princem nostrum Albertum (Lord, Save our Prince Albert). During the prayer, all stand except for the Sovereign, who remains seated.

Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess Gabriella of Monaco (Albert’s daughter), Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco (Albert’s son), Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Albert’s sister) and Prince Albert II of Monaco watch the Presentation of Arms at the Cour d’Honneur

Afterward, the Princely Family watches the Presentation of Arms at the Cour d’Honneur, the large horseshoe staircase in the Palace Courtyard at the Prince’s Palace. The Minister of State then conducts ceremonies to award Labor Medals and Medals of Honour.

The military parade

The extended Princely Family gather to watch a military parade on the Place du Palais. After the parade, a cannon salute is given by artillery dating back to the 1600s.

The extended family: Kaia-Rose Wittstock and Bodhi Wittstock, Gareth Wittstock, Sean Wittstock, Camille Gottlieb, Pauline Ducruet, Marie Chevallier, Louis Ducruet, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Beatrice Borromeo, Francesco Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Stefano Casiraghi, Raphael Elmaleh, Charlotte Casiraghi, Balthazar Rassam, India Casiraghi, Tatiana Santo Domingo, Maximilian Casiraghi, Sacha Casiraghi and Andrea Casiraghi

The Stade  Louis-II; Credit – By V&A Dudush – Panoramio, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19960683

In the afternoon, a friendly football (soccer) match takes place at the Stade Louis-II.

Princess Caroline of Hanover (Albert’s sister), Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Alexandra of Hanover (Caroline’s daughter), Sean Wittstock (Charlene’s brother) and his wife attend the Gala at the Grimaldi Forum during the Monaco National Day 2023 on November 19, 2023 

In the evening, the annual Monaco National Day Gala Performance by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is held at the Grimaldi Forum.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia. (2021). Fête du prince, fête nationale à Monaco. Wikipedia.org; Fondation Wikimedia, Inc. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_du_Prince
  • Monaco’s National Day or Sovereign Prince’s Day. (2024). HelloMonaco. https://www.hellomonaco.com/event/monacos-national-day-or-sovereign-princes-day/
  • Monaco’s National Day. (2023). The Royal Watcher. https://royalwatcherblog.com/2023/11/19/monaco-national-day-2023/
  • Monaco National Day Mass & Parade – Royal Attendance (2018-Present). (2022, November 18). Blogspot.com. https://gertsroyals.blogspot.com/2022/11/monaco-national-day-mass-parade-royal.html
  • National Day of Monaco. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Monaco
  • Palais Princier de Monaco. (2012). National Day celebration. Palais.mc. https://www.palais.mc/en/news/h-s-h-prince-albert-ii/event/2012/november/national-day-celebration-2888.html

Norway – Constitution Day, National Day of Norway – May 17

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

The Children’s Parade in Oslo in 2010; Credit – By evelinagustafsson@live.se – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10407995

In Norway, May 17 is Constitution Day and the National Day of Norway. The celebrations focus on Norway as an independent state governed by the rule of law with democratic rights for all. Unlike other countries’ National Days, Norway’s National Day is not celebrated with military parades, but with local children’s parades in which music bands and school children march together.

History

The Norwegian Constituent Assembly meeting at Eidsvoll, Norway in 1814 by Oscar Wergeland; Credit – Wikipedia

The Constitution of Norway was adopted on May 16, 1814, and signed on May 17, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll, Norway. The constitution declared Norway an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway‘s defeat in the Napoleonic Wars. The attempt failed and Norway was part of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway until 1905.

The first celebration of May 17th took place in Trondheim in 1815, one year after the Constitution was drafted and adopted. The French-born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte who was elected Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810 by the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament, ruled over Norway and Sweden from 1818 to 1844 as King Karl III Johan of Norway and King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden. He regarded the May 17th celebrations and Norway’s independent Constitution as revolutionary acts against Sweden. In 1828, celebrations of Constitution Day were prohibited. However, his son and successor King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway had a different opinion. Starting in 1845, the year after he became King, Oscar I attended the May 17th celebrations, and greeted the parade from the royal estate, now called the Royal Palace of Oslo.

In Norway, holidays and festivals were often celebrated by parades with banners, music, and singing. Peter Qvam, a school headmaster, came up with the idea of holding a children’s parade, Barnetog (children’s train). In 1869, the first Barnetog was held on May 17th with about 1,200 boys participating. Girls began participating in 1889.

What Happens?

Bunads

Credit – Av Ingen maskinlesbar opphavsperson oppgitt. Leifern er antatt opphavsperson, basert på opplysninger om opphavsrett. – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=371104

It is common for Norwegians to wear bunads on May 17th. The term bunad refers to clothes designed in the early 20th century, loosely based on traditional costumes. Bunads are often worn at folk dances, weddings, baptisms, confirmations, Christmas, and graduations.

Children’s Parades

A kindergarten class with their class banner marching in a children’s parade; Credit – By Ranveig Thattai – Ranveig Thattai, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162695

Children’s parades, Barnetog in Norwegian which translates to children’s train, are organized in  Norwegian communities and many communities where Norwegians live abroad. In Norway, each elementary school district arranges its own parade with marching bands between schools. The children are dressed festively and carry small Norwegian flags. The children’s parades vary in size from tens of people in small villages to several tens of thousands of participants in Oslo, Norway’s capital.

The children’s parades follow certain routes in towns and are organized so that the children walk by class behind their school banner. Many classes also have their own homemade banners. The parade ends with children and adults gathering in a large space where speeches are given. After the speeches, many people join the parade on the march back to the starting point. Some communities also have separate citizens’ trains or people’s trains where everyone can participate.

The Children’s Parade in Oslo going past the Royal Palace in Oslo; Credit – By Morten Johnsen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1514702

In Oslo, about 70,000 children and adults and 1,700 bands march in the children’s parade. The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces leads the Oslo children’s parade. The parade passes the Royal Palace where the royal family wave from the palace balcony.

The Royal Family on the Balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo

Left to Right: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Queen Sonja, and King Harald V wave Norwegian flags from the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo, on May 17, 2021

Each May 17, the Norwegian royal family gathers on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to greet the Oslo children’s parade. King Haakon VII and Queen Maud began the tradition in 1906 and subsequent monarchs have continued the tradition. There have been two exceptions. Queen Maud’s father King Edward VII of the United Kingdom died on May 6, 1910, and the Norwegian royal family was in mourning and attending the funeral in the United Kingdom. Norway was under German Occupation during World War II from 1940 – 1945. During the occupation, Norwegians were forbidden to celebrate May 17th, participate in parades, or use the colors of the Norwegian flag on clothes.

Crowds gather in front of the Royal Palace during the Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations on May 17, 2014 in Oslo, Norway

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2005, May 19). Norges nasjonaldag. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/17._mai_(grunnlovsdag)
  • Celebrating May 17th. (2020, May 17). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=78630&sek=27262
  • Constitution Day (Norway). (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Day_(Norway)

Accession, Coronation, Benediction – Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim; Credit – Royal House of Norway

A Bit of History

The Kingdom of Norway was established in 872 as a merger of many small kingdoms. During the Kalmar Union from 1397 until 1523, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were ruled together under one monarch until Danish rule was overthrown in a rebellion led by nobleman Gustav Vasa, who became King Gustav I of Sweden. From 1537 to 1814, Norway was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, and from 1814 to 1905, it was in a personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden.

In 1905, when the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved, the Norwegian government began searching for candidates to become King of Norway. Prince Carl of Denmark, the second son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark, was the overwhelming favorite because of his descent from prior Norwegian monarchs and the British connections of his wife Princess Maud, daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Before accepting, Prince Carl insisted that the voices of the Norwegian people be heard regarding retaining a monarchy. Following a referendum with a 79% majority in favor, Prince Carl was formally offered, and then accepted the throne and reigned as King Haakon VII of Norway until he died in 1957.

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Accession

When the Norwegian Sovereign dies, the accession is automatic. The last Norwegian accession took place on January 17, 1991, when King Olav V died and his son immediately succeeded him as King Harald V. The Constitution of Norway requires the new Norwegian Sovereign to swear an oath before the Storting, the Norwegian legislature. If the Storting is not in session, the new  Sovereign swears the oath before the Council of State and again before the Storting once it is in session.

On January 21, 1991, King Harald V swore an oath during a formal ceremony in the Storting. President of the Storting Jo Benkow read the announcement of King Olav V’s death before King Harald V swore the oath: “I solemnly swear to reign in the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and laws, so help me Almighty God.”

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History of Coronations

Coronation of King Karl III Johan of Norway in Nidaros Cathedral 1818; Credit – Wikipedia

The first coronation in Norway occurred in 1163 or 1164, in Bergen, then the capital of Norway, at Christ Church (Old Cathedral).  Christ Church was razed to the ground In 1531, by Eske Bille, a Danish diplomat and statesman, and commander of the Bergenhus Fortress.  Bille was famous for demolishing the churches in Bergen and became known by the nickname “Church Breaker”. Churches and other buildings in Bergen had to be removed to enable a better defense of Bergen and its port. When King Haakon V came to the throne in 1299, Norway’s capital was moved from Bergen to Oslo, which is still Norway’s capital. After 1299, some coronations were held in Oslo but most took place at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.

During the Kalmar Union (1397 to 1523), when a single monarch ruled Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the monarchs were crowned in all three monarchies. After the Kalmar Union was dissolved, Norway remained unified with Denmark under the King of Denmark until 1814. Throughout the Danish Union, the Kings of Denmark-Norway had one ceremony in Denmark in which the King placed the crown upon his own head and was anointed. During the Swedish Union (1814 – 1905), the 1814 Constitution of Norway required the monarch of Norway to be crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway.

The first King of Sweden-Norway, King Karl II of Norway who was also King Carl XIII of Sweden, never visited Norway and was never crowned. When King Karl III Johan of Norway/King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden ascended the throne in 1818, the coronation at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim continued in accordance with the 1814 Constitution of Norway with him and his successors.

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud seated on their thrones during their coronation in 1906; Credit – By Municipal Archives of Trondheim from Trondheim, Norway – Kroningen i Trondhjem 1906Uploaded by Anne-Sophie Ofrim, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18901728

When the Swedish union was abolished in 1905, and Prince Carl of Denmark was elected King of Norway and reigned as King Haakon VII, he and his wife Queen Maud (born Princess Maud of Wales, the daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom) were crowned at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, in accordance with the 1814 Constitution of Norway. So far, this was the last coronation held in Norway.

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A Change

In 1908, just two years after the coronation of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, the Storting, the Norwegian legislature, repealed the provision in the Constitution of Norway requiring a coronation with only two Storting members voting against the repeal. Many Norwegians felt that a coronation was undemocratic and archaic. Norwegian law does not expressly ban coronations but the Norwegian monarchs since the 1908 repeal have opted for a different ceremony, a benediction.

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History of the Benediction

King Olav V of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

When King Olav V came to the throne in 1957, upon the death of his father King Haakon VII, he desired to have a religious ceremony as he embarked on his roles as King of Norway and the Head of the Church of Norway. Olav proposed a ritual known in Norwegian as Signing til kongsgjerning – Blessing the King for His Reign – a benediction rite. There was and still is no constitutional prohibition against arranging a ceremony for a new monarch of Norway, even a coronation if any future monarch of Norway desires to have one.

King Olav played an active role in developing the Benediction, also called the Consecration. However, Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen and his Government showed little enthusiasm for the Benediction. The Government decided that only three members of the Storting’s Presidium, a committee of six members chaired by the President of the Storting, three members of the Government, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should attend the Benediction. However, Arne Fjellbu, Bishop of Nidaros sent a letter to all members of the Storting informing them that seating would be reserved for all those who wished to attend. Within a short time, most of the Storting members had accepted the invitation.

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King Olav V’s Benediction – June 22, 1958

King Olav V’s Benediction; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V’s wife and first cousin, born Princess Märtha of Sweden, sadly died of cancer on April 5, 1954, so Olav came to the throne without a Queen Consort, and he never remarried. For his Benediction, Olav chose the date June 22, 1958, exactly 52 years after the coronation of his parents in the same cathedral, Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. The ceremony was carried live by radio throughout Norway.

Arne Fjellbu, Bishop of Nidaros and Johannes Smemo, Bishop of Oslo, who gave the sermon, officiated at the Benediction. The new ceremony retained some of the religious elements of earlier rites and eliminated elements considered to be undemocratic. There is no law preventing a coronation from occurring so any future monarch of Norway can choose to have one. During the ceremony, the Norwegian royal regalia was displayed but not worn.

Bishop Fjellbu consecrating King Olav V; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V sat on the 1818 coronation throne in Nidaros Cathedral. Following the sermon, Olav knelt before the high altar. Bishop Fjellbu laid his hand on the king’s head and recited a special prayer of consecration and blessing which formed the climax of the ritual:

Eternal, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, we thank thee whose grace in need has always gone over our land in woeful and good times to this day. Hear, today, our king’s and our prayer. We pray thee, send thy grace to King Olav the Fifth, assist him by thy Spirit and give him wisdom and peace from thee that his reign be a benefit and a blessing on Norway’s land and people. Deceitful and burdensome days will come; may truth and goodness from thee be his power and gladness. Eternal, powerful God, bless our king, be thou always his Lord and his King and grant his House all good days in time and eternity. Amen.

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Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja – June 23, 1991

Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V died on January 17, 1991, and his son King Harald V succeeded him. King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja, a commoner,  born Sonja Haraldsen, expressed their desire to both participate in a Benediction ceremony like King Olav V’s. On June 23, 1991, their Benediction ceremony was held at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, officiated by Finn Wagle, Bishop of Nidaros and Andreas Aarflot, Bishop of Oslo.

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906 with the Norwegian regalia; Credit – By Peder O. Aune, 1906 Uploaded by Anne-Sophie Ofrim, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23926801

The royal regalia was displayed during the ceremony but not worn. The King’s Crown and the Queen’s Crown were placed on either side of the high altar. The bishops met King Harald V and Queen Sonja as they entered the cathedral. Bishop Wagle greeted King Harald: “May the Lord bless your going in and your coming out now and for evermore.” King Harald V and Queen Sonja proceeded up the aisle and sat in the 1818 coronation thrones.

Bishop Wagle consecrating King Harald V; Credit – Royal House of Norway

After scripture readings and the sermon, King Harald V knelt before the high altar. Bishop Wagle put his right hand on his head and said the consecration prayer which included: “Consecrate King Harald V, strengthen and lead him in his work as King of Norway. Let his service to the people and the Church be a blessing.”

Queen Sonja then came forward and knelt beside King Harald. Bishop Wagle lay his right hand on her head and said: “Let her work be in support of the King’s deed. Help her use abilities and forces for the joy and benefit of Norway’s country and people.”

Bishop Wagle then said a prayer over the kneeling King and Queen and turned and knelt at the high altar as the Royal Anthem, the Kongesangen, was sung:

God bless our good king!
Bless him with strength and courage
bless home and castle!
Guide him with your Spirit,
Forge with your strong Hand
Holy bonds of allegiance
Around people and king!

Loudly pledge men of Norway
Each in his calling, his station,
Loyalty to his king.
Loyal in life and death,
Courageous in war and distress,
Always our Norway obeyed
God and its king.

Bishop Wagle said a final blessing over the kneeling King and Queen: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Amen.” The Lord Chamberlain then came forward as the King and Queen rose, and conducted them back to their coronation thrones.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Accession of the New Monarch in 1991. (2016). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=131423&sek=27262
  • Consecration. (2011). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=35248&sek=35247
  • The Consecration of King Harald and Queen Sonja. (2013). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28733&sek=27278
  • The Consecration of King Olav V. (2007). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=35246&sek=35244
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Coronations in Norway. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Monarchy of Norway. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Spain – Princess of Asturias Awards – Mid to Late October

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

2015 Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor, a performing arts theater in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain; By Ruben Ortega – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44642313

The Princess of Asturias Awards (or the Prince of Asturias Awards if the heir to the throne is male) are annual monetary prizes awarded by the Princess of Asturias Foundation (or the Prince of Asturias Foundation if the heir is male) in mid to late October. The prizes are awarded in several categories.

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Who is the Prince or Princess of Asturias?

Leonor, Princess of Asturias; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince or Princess of Asturias is a title used by the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the throne of the Kingdom of Spain. The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community and province in northwest Spain. The title originated in 1388 when King Juan I of Castile granted the title and the jurisdiction over the territory of Asturias to his first-born son, the future King Enrique III of Castile.

The current holder of the title is Infanta Leonor of Spain (born on October 31, 2005), the elder of the two daughters of King Felipe VI of Spain. Leonor is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne. Infante (male) and Infanta (female) is the title given in Spain (including the former Kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and León) and in the former Kingdom of Portugal to the sons and daughters of the reigning monarch.

Currently, Spain’s succession law is male-preference cognatic primogeniture. This means that Leonor, as the elder of King Felipe VI’s two daughters, is first in line to inherit the throne, and she is the heir presumptive. However, if her parents have a son, which seems unlikely at this point, he would be the heir apparent and Leonor would forfeit the title of Princess of Asturias to her brother. There have been discussions of changing the succession law to absolute primogeniture, where the eldest child, regardless of gender, inherits the throne, but no legislation has been forthcoming. If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will be Spain’s first queen regnant since Queen Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868.

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What are the Princess of Asturias Awards?

King Felipe VI as Prince of Asturias giving a speech at the creation of the Prince of Asturias Foundation in 1980; Credit – Facebook page of the Princess of Asturias Foundation

The Princess of Asturias Awards are given to individuals, entities, and organizations from around the world who made notable scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanistic achievements. Spanish journalist Graciano García, who was born in Asturias, originated the idea of the awards to establish a link between the Principality of Asturias and the heir to the Spanish throne, who holds the title of Prince or Princess of Asturias, as well as rewarding scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanistic accomplishments. The Prince of Asturias Awards were established on September 24, 1980, with the creation of the Prince of Asturias Foundation, in a ceremony presided over by King Felipe VI of Spain, then Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir to the throne of Spain, in the presence of his parents King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

In 2014, after King Felipe VI acceded to the Spanish throne when his father King Juan Carlos I abdicated, it was announced that the foundation and the awards would be renamed using “Princess of Asturias” to reflect the new heiress presumptive to the Spanish throne, Leonor, Princess of Asturias. Beginning in 2019, Leonor attended the awards ceremony, handed out the awards, and delivered a speech. However, King Felipe VI continued to preside over the awards ceremony until Leonor turned 18 on October 31, 2023.

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What are the categories of the Princess of Asturias Awards?

Currently, the Princess of Asturias Awards have eight categories. Click on this link, Wikipedia: Categories and Laureates, to see all the winners, who come from all over the world.

  • Award for Communication and Humanities: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at the work of cultivating and perfecting the sciences and disciplines considered as humanistic activities and those related to the mass media in all its expressions.”
  • Award for Social Sciences: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at creative and/or research work in history, law, linguistics, pedagogy, political science, psychology, sociology, ethics, philosophy, geography, economics, demography and anthropology, as well as the disciplines corresponding to each of these areas.”
  • Award for the Arts: Awarded since 1981, “dedicated to the work of cultivating and perfecting cinematography, theatre, dance, music, photography, painting, sculpture, architecture and other artistic manifestations.”
  • Award for Literature: Awarded since 1981, “dedicated to the work of cultivating and perfecting literary creation in all its genres.”
  • Award for Scientific and Technical Research: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at the work of cultivating and perfecting research, discovery and/or invention in mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, medical sciences, Earth and space sciences and technological sciences, as well as the disciplines corresponding to each of these fields and the techniques related to them.”
  • Award for International Cooperation: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at individual or collective work, with another or others, to develop and promote public health, universal education, the protection and defense of the environment and the economic, cultural and social advancement of peoples.”
  • Award for Concord: Awarded since 1986, “destined to the work of defending and generalizing human rights, the promotion and protection of peace, freedom, solidarity, world heritage and, in general, the progress of humanity.”
  • Award for Sports: Awarded since 1987, “aimed at those careers that, through the promotion, development and improvement of sport and through solidarity and commitment, have become an example of the possibilities that the practice of sport brings to the benefit of human beings.”

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How are the winners of the Princess of Asturias Awards determined?

All previous winners of the Prince/Princess of Asturias Awards, people and institutions invited by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Spanish embassies, diplomatic representations in Spain, members of the juries for the other awards, and prestigious people and institutions may submit proposals for candidates for the Princess of Asturias Award. Award juries meet during April to June at the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, in Spain.

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Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony

Teatro Campoamor; Credit – By Denissf – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18700474

The awards are presented by Leonor, Princess of Asturias in mid/late October in a ceremony at Teatro Campoamor, a performing arts theater in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain. People from the cultural, business, and sporting worlds of Spain and Spanish government officials attend the awards ceremony. Leonor’s parents, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and her younger sister Infanta Sofia often attend the awards ceremony.

Leonor, Princess of Asturias delivers a speech at the 2023 awards ceremony

Awards week begins a few days before the awards ceremony, always on a Friday, when the award winners arrive at the Hotel Reconquista in Oviedo. On the days before the ceremony, the winners participate in public events – talks and meetings in cultural centers, universities, schools, sports centers, etc. – in towns in Asturias. The night before the awards ceremony, the Principality of Asturias’s Symphony Orchestra presents a concert in the Oviedo Auditorium.

Sculptures designed by Joan Miró waiting to be awarded to winners of the Princess of Asturias Award; Credit – Wikipedia

At the awards ceremony, each winner is presented with a diploma, a badge with the coat of arms of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, a sculpture designed by Joan Miró (1893 – 1983), a Catalan-Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramist, and a cash prize of 50,000 Euros. If a prize is shared, each winner receives a proportional share of the prize. If a winner does not attend the awards ceremony, they will not receive either the prize money or the sculpture, even if the absence is due to reasons beyond his control.

Princess of Asturias Foundation Coat of Arms; Credit – By Buho07 – [1], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11913798

A diploma given to Claudio Magris, an Italian writer in 2004; Credit – By Kippelboy – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15798954

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Fundación Princesa de Asturias. (2024). Www.fpa.es. https://www.fpa.es/en/2024-special/
  • ‌‌Premios Princesa de Asturias. (2003). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premios_Princesa_de_Asturias
  • Princess of Asturias Awards. (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_of_Asturias_Awards
  •  Princess of Asturias Awards. (2022) The Princess of Asturias Foundation. https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/

King’s Day – April 27 (April 26 if April 27 is a Sunday) – Netherlands

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Willem-Alexander visiting Emmen, the Netherlands on King’s Day in 2024; Credit – Door Erikt – Eigen werk https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147787647

King’s Day (Koningsdag in Dutch) is a national holiday, marking the birth of King Willem-Alexander on April 27, 1967. It is celebrated on April 27 or April 26 if April 27 is a Sunday. When the Dutch monarch is female, the holiday is known as Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag in Dutch).

History

Queen Wilhelmina on Queen’s Day, August 31, 1946, two years before her death. Left to Right: Princess Juliana (later Queen), Prince Bernhard (Juliana’s husband), Queen Wilhelmina, unidentified man, Princess Beatrix (later Queen), Princess Margriet (sitting on step), and Princess Irene; Credit – Wikipedia

King Willem III, who reigned from 1849 to 1890, was an unpopular ruler. Faced with an unpopular monarchy, the States-General, the Dutch legislature, considered ways to promote national unity. Although King Willem III was disliked, his young daughter, only surviving child, and successor, Princess Wilhelmina (born 1880, later Queen Wilhelmina) was not. Intermittently, a holiday had been held on King Willem III’s birthday. J. W. R. Gerlach, editor of the newspaper Utrechts Provinciaal en Stedelijk Dagblad, proposed that Princess Wilhelmina’s birthday be observed for patriotic celebration and national reconciliation.

On the first Princess’ Day in 1885, celebrations occurred only in Utrecht where the five-year-old Princess Wilhelmina was paraded through the streets, waving to the crowds. Eventually, other towns and cities held celebrations, many organizing activities for children. Queen Wilhelmina (reigned 1890 – 1948, abdicated in favor of her daughter Juliana) rarely attended Queen’s Day celebrations after reaching adulthood.

Queen Juliana  (second from the left) and the Dutch royal family standing on the steps of  Soestdijk Palace on Queen’s Day in 1960; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Juliana (reigned 1948 – 1980, abdicated in favor of her daughter Beatrix) spent each Queen’s Day at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn. The Dutch royal family stood on the palace steps watching a procession of Dutch people in a flower parade. Many Dutch people left flowers and gifts for the royal family on the palace steps. The flower parade was broadcast on television from the mid-1950s.

Queen Beatrix on Queen’s Day in 2010

Queen Beatrix (reigned 1980 – 2013, abdicated in favor of her son Willem-Alexander) decided that rather than remaining at a palace and letting the Dutch people come to her, she would instead visit two towns or cities each year for Queen’s Day celebrations, accompanied by members of the Dutch royal family.

Date Changes

The holiday was originally held as Princess’ Day (Prinsessedag in Dutch) on August 31, 1885, the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, the only surviving child of King Willem III of the Netherlands and the heir presumptive to the Dutch throne. When ten-year-old Wilhelmina ascended the Dutch throne after her father died in 1890, the holiday became known as Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) and was first celebrated on August 31, 1891.

In September 1948, when Queen Wilhelmina died, her daughter Juliana became Queen of the Netherlands and Queen’s Day was moved to April 30, Queen Juliana’s birthday. Queen Beatrix, Queen Juliana’s daughter and successor, opted to keep Queen’s Day on April 30 as a tribute to her mother. Queen Beatrix’s birthday was January 31, in the middle of winter, not a time conducive to outdoor activities.

Queen Beatrix abdicated on Queen’s Day in 2013, in favor of her son Willem-Alexander, the first King of the Netherlands in 123 years. The holiday became known as King’s Day (Koningsdag) and was moved to April 27, King Willem-Alexander’s birthday.

What Happens?

Princess Caterina Amalia, Queen Máxima, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane on King’s Day on April 27, 2024, in Emmen, Netherlands

The older generation of the Dutch royal family usually no longer attends events on King’s Day. Instead, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and their three daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia (The Princess of Orange), Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane make appearances. The King’s brother Prince Constantijn and his wife Princess Laurentien, the four sons of Princess Margriet, first cousins of King Willem-Alexander, and their spouses also make appearances.

King Willem-Alexander visits only one city or town on King’s Day. That city or town is given the opportunity to present itself to the rest of the Netherlands, focusing on music, sports, visual arts, design, technology, business, historical heritage, social initiatives, or dreams for the future.

People dressed in orange on Amsterdam’s canals on Queen’s Day in 2010; By Carmelrmd – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21023947

There are many celebrations throughout the Netherlands. Participants in King’s Day often dress in orange and dye their hair orange in honor of the House of Orange-Nassau. The vrijmarkt (free market) is a nationwide flea market. King’s Day is the only day of the year that the Dutch government permits sales on the street without a permit or the payment of value-added tax. Many large-scale celebrations are held on King’s Day with many concerts and special events in public spaces, particularly in Amsterdam. An outdoor concert is held on Amsterdam’s Museumplein, where as many as 800,000 people attend.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Koningsdag (Nederland). (2024). Wikipedia. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag_(Nederland)
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Koningsdag. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag
  • Zaken, M. van A. (2014). Geschiedenis Koningsdag – Koningsdag – Het Koninklijk Huis. Www.koninklijkhuis.nl. https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/koningsdag/geschiedenis-koningsdag

Spain – National Day – October 12

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Columbus taking possession of what is now Guanahani in the Bahamas in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and her husband King Ferdinand II of Aragon, on October 12, 1492; Credit – Wikipedia

The National Day of Spain (Fiesta Nacional de España) is celebrated on October 12, the day in 1492, when Christopher Columbus went ashore at Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, that Columbus called San Salvador. The discovery of the Americas on October 12, 1492, has been considered an important historical day because contact between America and Europe began, transforming the world views and lives of both Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the European colonization of the Americas began. Christopher Columbus always believed that he had reached what we now call Asia without suspecting that he had stumbled upon a new continent. Explorer Amerigo Vespucci claimed to have understood in 1501 that Brazil was part of a fourth continent unknown to Europeans, which he named the “New World”. October 12 symbolizes Spain’s common heritage with today’s Latin American countries, which made up the Spanish Empire, the first global power in world history.

History

Our Lady of the Pillar appearing to Saint James and his disciples by Francisco Goya; Credit – Wikipedia

The first celebration in Spain of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus was in 1642 when the city of Zaragoza (also known in English as Saragossa) in Aragon, Spain designated Our Lady of the Pillar as a symbol of Hispanidad (Hispanicity) on the date of Columbus’ arrival in the New World. Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the context of the traditional belief that Mary, while living in Jerusalem, supernaturally appeared to the Apostle James the Greater in 40 AD while he was preaching on the banks of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta, now Zaragoza, Spain. In 1730, the religious feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar was declared a holiday throughout the Spanish Empire.

Our Lady of the Pillar wooden statue at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; By CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63861797

This title is also associated with a wooden statue commemorating Mary’s apparition, enshrined at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. The traditional belief is that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave James the Greater a column of jasper and instructed him to build a church in her honor: “This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build.” The wooden statue at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar depicts Mary and the Child Jesus with a dove sitting on his left palm. The statue is 15 inches/39 centimeters tall and stands on a pillar of jasper 5.9 feet/1.8 meters tall.

Maria Christina of Austria, Queen of Spain; Credit – Wikipedia

On September 23, 1892, Queen Maria Cristina, the widow of King Alfonso XII of Spain who died in 1885, and the Regent for her six-year-old son King Alfonso XIII of Spain, issued a royal decree declaring October 12, 1892, a one-time national day in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery.

The Discovery of America and Hispanidad has been celebrated as a national day since 1918 under different names like “Día de la Hispanidad” or “Dia de la Raza” due to changes in political regimes in Spain during the 20th century. Spanish National Day emphasizes Spain’s ties with the Hispanidad, the international Hispanic community, and Spain’s legacy to the world. In 1981, a royal decree issued by King Juan Carlos I established the Fiesta Nacional y Día de la Hispanidad as a national holiday. In 1987 the name was changed to Fiesta Nacional de España and October 12 became one of two national celebrations, along with Constitution Day on December 6. The removal of Hispanidad aimed to avoid any controversy regarding the conquest, influence, and rule of the Americas by Spain.

October 12 is also an official holiday in much of Latin America under different names, celebrating the historical and cultural ties among Hispanic American countries, ties with Spain, and their common Hispanic and pre-Hispanic indigenous American heritage. However, in some Latin American countries, the emphasis has been removed from the “discovery of America” that many see as causing the abuse and genocide of the indigenous people of the Americas. In the United States, on the second Monday in October, Columbus Day, a federal holiday, is celebrated. Similar to the sentiment in some Latin American countries, a number of places in the United States instead celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The controversy regarding the Spanish conquest of the indigenous peoples of the Americas continues. In 2019, Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador wrote to King Felipe VI of Spain and Pope Francis, calling for them to apologize for the abuses committed by the Kingdom of Spain and the Roman Catholic Church during the Spanish conquest and the colonial period. In 2024, Mexico’s president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum refused to invite King Felipe VI of Spain to her inauguration because he failed to apologize for crimes committed against Mexico’s indigenous people during the Spanish conquest 500 years ago.

What Happens?

Leonor, Princess of Asturias (heir presumptive to the throne), King Felipe VI, and Queen Letizia attend the National Day Military Parade in Madrid, Spain on October 12, 2023

Official and cultural celebrations take place throughout Spain on National Day. Despite Día de la Hispanidad (Day of Hispanicity) being removed from the holiday’s name, the tradition of celebrating Hispanicity is still observed in Spain and celebrated by Hispanic people worldwide. The main celebrations take place in Madrid, the capital of Spain. Since 2000, October 12 has also been Spain’s Day of the Armed Forces, celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid.

Military Parade

The Military Parade, 2014 Fiesta Nacional de España; Credit – WIkipedia

The Spanish Armed Forces and the State Security Forces (law enforcement) participate in a parade in Madrid, attended by the Spanish Royal Family, the Prime Minister of Spain, leaders of the Cortes Generales (the Spanish legislature), members of the Supreme Court of Spain, members of the cabinet, other representatives of the central government and the governments of the autonomous communities of the state. Thousands of Spaniards gather along the parade route. At 9:00 AM, the Royal Guards Honors Battalion forms up at the front of the royal dais where the military and governmental members have assembled, awaiting the Spanish Royal Family’s arrival.

The Royal Family of Spain and dignitaries on the dais watching the military parade in 2008. Credit – By Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain, Attribution, Link

At 10:00 AM, the Royal Family arrives. The Royal Guards Band plays the Marcha Real, the Spanish national anthem, one of four national anthems without lyrics. The Royal Guard Battalion presents arms and a 21-gun salute is fired. The Spanish monarch and his/her spouse inspect the Royal Guards Honors Battalion while the band plays music. The Spanish monarch and his/her spouse proceed to the dais to meet the gathered government leaders. The Chief of Defense Staff asks the Spanish monarch for permission to begin the ceremony.

Embed from Getty Images

The Spanish Air and Space Force Aerobatics Parachute Unit performs a jump from an aircraft while carrying a massive Spanish flag, landing in front of the Spanish royal family sitting on the dais. The tribute to the national flag follows, with its raising while the national anthem, the “Marcha Real,” is performed

Spanish Air and Space Force’s aerobatics team, the Patrulla Águila; Credit – Nils van der Burg from Madrid, Spain 12 Oct 2009 – Día de la Hispanidad

A tribute is paid to the soldiers who have given their lives for Spain, followed by the military parade, ending with a flypast display by the Spanish Air and Space Force’s aerobatics team, the Patrulla Águila.

Spanish Culture

Throughout Spain, there are many public and private events honoring Spain’s heritage, history, society, and people. People can be seen dressed in traditional regional and historic dress. Folk, classical, and modern music concerts, and street shows are well attended. Latin American communities in Spain participate in parades, displaying their national flags and wearing their countries’ historic dress while their countries’ folk music is played. Museums and historical sites have an Open Doors Day, allowing all to enter free.

Religious Aspect

October 12 is the feast day of both Our Lady of the Pillar (explained above) and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura, names given to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because their feast days are on October 12, they have become related to Christopher Columbus and the National Day of Spain.

Our Lady of the Pillar is the Patroness of Aragon, Spain and its capital Zaragoza, Patroness of the Hispanic people, Patroness of the Hispanic world, and Patroness of the Spanish Civil Guard. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is in Zaragoza, Spain. A nine-day festival known as Fiestas del Pilar is celebrated in Zaragoza, Spain every year in her honor, beginning on the weekend preceding October 12.

Offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Spain; Credit – By Ecelan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3829351

On October 12, many people from other Spanish regions go to Zaragoza, where the traditional “Ofrenda de flores a la Virgen” (Offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary), a large parade with many participants including from Latin American communities, takes place all day long.

National Day of Spain celebrations at the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura. Spain; Credit – Wikipedia

Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura is a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe in Cáceres, Spain. A statue of Mary is reputed to have been carved by Saint Luke the Evangelist and given to Saint Leander, Archbishop of Seville by Pope Gregory I. According to local legend, in 712, during the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, when Seville was defeated, a group of priests fled and buried the statue in the hills near the Guadalupe River in Extremadura, Spain. In the early 14th century, the Blessed Virgin Mary reputedly appeared to a cow herder named Gil Cordero while he was searching for a missing cow in the mountains. Cordero claimed that Mary ordered him to ask priests to dig at the place of her apparition. The priests discovered the hidden statue and built a small shrine which became the nucleus of the present monastery.

The statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura; Credit – Wikipedia

The statue was carved from cedar wood and is two feet high. It is a Black Madonna, a statue or painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus, where both are depicted with dark skin. Since the late 14th century, the statue has been clothed in embroidered and brocaded clothing, leaving only the faces and hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus visible.

There is a connection to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura and Christopher Columbus. Queen Isabella I of Castile and her husband King Ferdinand II of Aragon signed the documents that authorized the first voyage of Columbus to the Americas at the Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe. Upon his return to Spain, Columbus went to the monastery to give thanks for a safe voyage.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Colaboradores de los proyectos Wikimedia. (2006). fiesta nacional de España. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_Nacional_de_Espa%C3%B1a
  • National Day of Spain. (2021). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Spain
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Columbus Day. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe_in_Extremadura
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Our Lady of the Pillar. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Pillar

Netherlands – Accession to the Throne and Inauguration

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

A painting by Nicolaas Pieneman depicting King Willem II swearing the oath during his inauguration in 1840; Credit – Wikipedia

The last accession to the throne of the Netherlands took place when Queen Beatrix abdicated on April 30, 2013, thirty-three years after she became Queen of the Netherlands when her mother Queen Juliana abdicated on April 30, 1980. Queen Beatrix’s abdication and the inauguration of her son King Willem-Alexander took place on April 30, 2013. Beatrix signed the instrument of abdication in the Mozeszaal in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam at 10:07 a.m. local time. Willem-Alexander immediately became King of the Netherlands the instant his mother signed the instrument of abdication. His inauguration took place on the afternoon of April 30, 2013, in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

Article 32 of the Dutch Constitution states “Upon assuming the royal prerogative the monarch shall be sworn in and invested as soon as possible in the capital city, Amsterdam, at a public and joint session of the two Houses of the States General. The monarch shall swear or promise allegiance to the Constitution and that he/she will faithfully discharge his/her duties. Specific rules shall be laid down by Act of Parliament.” The Dutch monarch is not crowned, although the crown, orb, and scepter are present at the investiture ceremony. The swearing of the oath constitutes the monarch’s acceptance of the throne.

History

Willem ( (the Silent), Prince of Orange; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince of Orange is a title originally associated with the sovereign Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. Willem I (the Silent), Prince of Orange (reigned 1559 – 1584, assassinated) is the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau, and the ancestor of the Dutch monarchs. When Willem’s childless cousin René of Châlon, Prince of Orange died in 1544, he left the Principality of Orange to Willem. Over the years, the title Prince of Orange became prestigious in the Netherlands and throughout the Protestant world despite losing the territory that had originally gone with the title. The Princes of Orange were also Stadtholders of various Dutch provinces during the period of the Dutch Republic and gained much power.

The 1814 inauguration of Willem VI, as Sovereign Prince of Orange at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam; Credit – Wikipedia

The Napoleonic Wars disrupted much of Europe. When the French invaded the Dutch Republic in 1795, Willem V, Prince of Orange and his family went into exile, first in England and then in 1796 in Prussia where they lived until 1813. After the defeat of Napoleon, the first inauguration ceremony was held in 1814, when Willem VI, Prince of Orange was sworn in as sovereign prince at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. Willem VI, urged on by the powers who met at the Congress of Vienna, proclaimed the Netherlands a monarchy on March 16, 1815. After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and his second exile, the Congress of Vienna formally confirmed Willem VI, Prince of Orange as the hereditary ruler, King Willem I, of what was known as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, the title Prince/Princess of Orange is held by the heir apparent of the Dutch monarch and the Dutch Royal Family are members of the House of Orange-Nassau.

What happens?

Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square in Amsterdam. The Royal Palace is on the left; Photo – © Susan Flantzer

The inauguration of Sovereign Kings and Queens of the Netherlands is held at the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam during a public session of the Dutch legislature, the States General. The Nieuwe Kerk is no longer used for church services and has been converted into a cultural center. However, the Nieuwe Kerk is used for the inauguration of the Dutch monarch according to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In addition, the religious wedding of the future King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was held at the Nieuwe Kerk in 2002.

Royal guests at King Willem-Alexander’s inauguration

Many guests attended King Willem-Alexander’s inauguration including members of other royal families. However, tradition requires that no foreign sovereign attend the inauguration so that the new Dutch sovereign, as protocol requires, is the one with the highest rank among those present.

Foreign royalty who attended King Willem Alexander’s inauguration:

  • Prince Albert II of Monaco (assuming that Prince Albert could attend because as a Sovereign Prince, his rank is lower than a King.)
  • Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned representing the Emir of Qatar
    Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco representing the King of Morocco
  • Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan representing the Emperor of Japan)
  • Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn of Thailand representing the King of Thailand
  • Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand
  • The Prince of Wales (Charles) and Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla), representing the Queen of the United Kingdom
  • Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, representing the Queen of Denmark
  • Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, representing the King of Sweden
  • The Prince (Felipe) and Princess of Asturias (Letizia) representing the King of Spain
  • The Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway, representing the King of Norway
  • The Duke (Philippe) and Duchess of Brabant (Mathilde), representing the King of the Belgians
  • The Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and Crown Princess Sarah binti Salleh Ab of Brunei, representing the Sultan of Brunei
  • The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, representing the Grand Duke of Luxembourg)
  • The Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, representing the Prince of Liechtenstein)
  • Prince Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath al-Hassan of Jordan, representing the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)

The inauguration is strictly ceremonial as the successor to the throne instantly becomes the new monarch at the moment the former monarch dies or abdicates. A monarch must be eighteen years old to participate in an inauguration. Although the inauguration is held in a church, it is not a religious ceremony. The significance of the inauguration is purely constitutional. The present form of the inauguration began with King Willem II’s inauguration in 1840.

The regalia of the Netherlands; Credit – Wikipedia

The Regalia of the Netherlands, commissioned by King Willem II in 1840, a copy of the Dutch Constitution, and a copy of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands are placed on a table in the Nieuwe Kerk. The regalia symbolizes the monarch’s power and dignity but are never physically given to or worn by the monarch.

The Crown symbolizes the sovereignty of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the dignity of the head of state. Since Dutch monarchs are not crowned, they never actually wear the crown. The Scepter symbolizes the monarch’s authority and the Orb symbolizes the monarch’s territory. The Sword of State symbolizes the monarch’s power.

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The regalia and the chairs of state in place for the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander © Royal Archives, photo: Ben Grishaaver (Leiden University). https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/royal-house/investiture

The President of the Senate opens this public session of the Dutch legislature and then reads a message from the Prime Minister which gives the President of the Senate the political responsibility for the inauguration of the monarch.

The ministers and secretaries of state, the members of the Council of State, and the governors of Aruba, Curaçao, and Saint Martin are welcomed. Members of the Dutch royal family, led by the heir to the throne and the other children of the sovereign enter and take their seats.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima walking to the Nieuwe Kerk; Credit – Wikipedia

Meanwhile, the Dutch monarch and his/her spouse leave the adjacent Royal Palace, preceded by a military escort, and walk the short distance to the Nieuwe Kerk.

The interior of the Nieuwe Kerk as King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima make their way down the aisle

On arriving at the Nieuwe Kerk, the monarch is greeted by a parliamentary delegation of five members. During the ceremony, the monarch, wearing an ermine-lined heirloom mantle, and his/her spouse, are seated on chairs of state upon a raised dais, opposite the members of the legislature. Once the monarch is seated, Wilhelmus, the national anthem is sung. The Wilhelmus was written in honor of  Willem I (the Silent), Prince of Orange, known as the Vader des Vaderlands (Father of the Fatherland).

The singing of the Wilhelmus, the national anthem of the Netherlands

The monarch gives a speech before swearing the oath to uphold the constitution and protect the people of the Kingdom. While reciting the oath, the monarch often displays the Spreekgebaar (speaking gesture), a hand gesture used in Germanic Europe and neighboring countries, when swearing an oath. The right hand is raised, with the index finger and middle finger extended upwards; the last two digits are curled downwards against the palm. The thumb is slightly curled or raised.

King Willem-Alexander swearing the oath while raising his hand in the Spreekgebaar

The oath or affirmation: “I solemnly swear (affirm) to the people of the Kingdom that I shall constantly preserve and uphold the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Constitution. I swear (affirm) that I shall defend and preserve the independence and the territory of the Kingdom to the best of my ability, that I shall protect the freedom and rights of all Dutch citizens and residents, and that I shall employ all means placed at my disposal by the law to preserve and promote prosperity, as is incumbent upon a good and faithful Sovereign. So help me God! (This I solemnly affirm!)

Following the monarch’s oath, the President of the Senate makes a declaration on behalf of the assembled people: “We receive and invest, in the name of the people of the Kingdom and in accordance with the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Constitution, you as king/queen. We swear (promise) that we will maintain your inviolability and the rights of your Crown. We swear (promise) to do all that a good and faithful States General, States of Aruba, States of Curaçao, and States of St Maarten should do. So help us God! (This we promise!)

A member of the States General swears the declaration

Next, each member of the States General is called individually to stand and swear or affirm this declaration. They either swear with the Spreekgebaar like the new monarch and state, “So truly help me, God Almighty” or affirm with a simple “That, I promise.”

The President of the Senate declares the inauguration completed, followed by the senior King of Arms exclaiming that the monarch has been inaugurated and the President of the Senate then proclaiming, “Long live the King/Queen!” All assembled respond with three hurrahs. The heralds proceed outside the church to Dam Square where they announce to the public that the monarch has been inaugurated and proclaim “Long live the King/Queen!”

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Investiture. (2017). Royal-House.nl. https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/royal-house/investiture
  • Monarchy of the Netherlands. (2021). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_Netherlands
  • Outline of Abdication and Investiture Programme 30 April. (2015). Royal-House.nl. https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/abdication-and-investiture/news/2013/2/12/outline-of-abdication-and-investiture-programme-30-april
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Inauguration of the Dutch monarch. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_the_Dutch_monarch
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Inauguration of Willem-Alexander. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_Willem-Alexander

State Opening of Parliament – Norway – Early October

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Haakon VII reading the Speech from the Throne speech in 1950. Crown Prince Olav, the future King Olav V, is on the right; Credit – Photo by an unknown photographer, from the collection of Oslo Museum via DigitaltMuseum.

The State Opening of the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, is held in early October after the Storting has been constituted. On the first working day of October, the Storting meets to elect its vice presidents and secretaries. When that is completed, the President of the Storting declares the Storting to be legally constituted.

According to Article 74 of the 1814 Constitution, the Norwegian monarch or his/her acting regent formally opens the Storting with a speech outlining the Government’s plans for the coming year. The monarch also addresses issues which he/she particularly desires to call the attention of the Storting.

The State Opening of the Storting is one of the few occasions when members of the Storting,  known in Norwegian as stortingsrepresentants (Storting Representatives), the entire Government, and members of the Norwegian royal family are gathered in an official ceremony. All three branches of the state – the legislative, the executive, and the judicial – attend the State Opening. Civilian and military officials, members of the Royal Court, and invited guests also attend.

What happens?

The Stortinget, Norway’s Parliament in Oslo, taken from the author’s hotel room; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer 2024

The Norwegian royal family travels the short distance by car from the Royal Palace of Oslo to the Stortinget, the parliament building. Usually the monarch’s spouse and the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince or Crown Princess, also attends the opening of the Storting. Norway’s line of succession to the throne is based upon absolute primogeniture where males and females have equal succession rights.

Military forces and the King’s Guard line Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s main street, between the Royal Palace and the Storinget. The streets of Oslo are decorated with Norwegian flags and lined with thousands of spectators.

King Harald V arrives for the State Opening of the Storting in 2021; Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB

When the Norwegian monarch, his/her spouse, and the Crown Prince or Crown Princess arrive at the Stortinget, they are welcomed by seven Storting Representatives at the main entrance at Løvebakken, the driveway in front of the Stortinget. The seven Storting Representatives accompany them for the duration of their stay at the Storinget.

Queen Sonja, King Harald V, and Crown Prince Haakon (on the right) attend the State Opening of the Storting on October 2, 2010

The Storting Chamber is rearranged for the State Opening of the Storting. The throne is positioned where the President of the Storting and the speaker’s rostrum normally stand. A table for the Storting’s President and Secretary is placed in the semicircle in front of the seats of the Storting Representatives.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg hands the Speech from the Throne to King Harald V during the State Opening of the Storting on October 2, 2018

The monarch is handed the Speech from the Throne by the Prime Minister. The speech, written by the Government, contains the plans for the Government’s policies in the coming year.

King Harald V reads the Speech from the Throne on October 2, 2010

All stand while the monarch reads the Speech from the Throne.

The State of the Realm Address is traditionally read by the youngest member of the Government, here the Minister of Culture Hadia Tajik. Photo: Erlend Aas / NTB scanpix

Next, one of the members of the Government, usually the youngest minister in the Government, reads the State of the Realm Address, a review of the government’s policy over the past year, mentioning what was achieved and important proposals that have been put forward.

The State Opening of the Storting ends with the National Anthem, “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” (“Yes, we love this country”).

The Constitution states that no deliberations or debate may take place in the presence of the monarch. This means the Storting session may not continue until the monarch has left the Stortinget. Only after the monarch leaves the Stortinget may the Storting decide to submit the Speech from the Throne and the State of the Realm Address for deliberation, and then adjourn.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2006). Trontalen (Norge). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trontalen_(Norge)
  • Opening of the Storting. (2024). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=30059&sek=30058
  • The 163rd Storting is open. (2018). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=165516&sek=27262
  • The State Opening of the Storting. (2024). Stortinget; Stortinget. https://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/Start-of-parliamentary-session/the-formal-state-opening-of-the-storting/

Monaco – Saint Dévote’s Day – January 27

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, and their children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques celebrating Saint Dévote’s Day on the evening of January 26, 2024; Credit – Royal Portraits Gallery

Saint Dévote is the patron saint of Monaco. From their beginnings in Monaco in 1297, the Grimaldi dynasty has encouraged devotion to Saint Dévote. Saint Dévote is the patron and protector of Monaco’s Princely Family and the Principality of Monaco and a symbol of Monegasque unity and identity. Saint Dévote is also the patron saint of her birthplace, Corsica.

Who was Saint Dévote?

Saint Dévote with Saint George (left) & Saint Lucy (right) at the Cathedral of Monaco; Donated circa 1560-1570 by Isabella Grimaldi, Lady of Monaco, wife of Honoré I, Lord of Monaco; Credit – Wikipedia

Saint Dévote was born circa 283 on the island of Corsica, then a Roman province, now part of France. She was a devoted Christian and served in the household of Eutychius, a Roman Senator. In 303, edicts were issued rescinding the legal rights of Christians and demanding they follow Roman traditional religious practices. This resulted in the Diocletianic or Great Persecution, the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

Circa 312, the Roman Governor of Sardinia and Corsica, Gabinius Barbarus Pompeianus, learned that Eutychius was protecting Dévote, a Christian in his household. He demanded that Dévote be given up and forced to perform the Roman religious rituals. Eutychius refused, and Gabinius Barbarus Pompeianus arranged to have him poisoned. Dévote was tortured and then stoned to death.

After Dévote’s death, Gabinius Barbarus Pompeianus ordered her body to be burned to prevent its veneration by Christians. However, the Christians were able to save Dévote’s body and placed it on a ship bound for Africa, where they believed Dévote would receive a proper Christian burial. However, the ship was caught in a storm. A dove appeared and guided the ship to present-day Les Gaumates in the Principality of Monaco. There the ship ran aground on the sixth day before the calends of February in the Roman calendar, corresponding to January 27, now Saint Dévote’s feast day. The site where the ship ran aground is the location of the current Chapel of St. Dévote.  In the 17th century, Saint Dévote’s relics were stolen. Fishermen caught the thieves at sea, retrieved the relics, and burned the thieves’ boats.

The Chapel of Saint Dévote

The Chaple of Saint Dévote; Credit – By Benoît Prieur – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112287997

Saint Dévote’s remains were buried in a chapel built near where the ship ran aground. The first written documentation of the chapel dates from 1070 but most likely it was built sometime before then. During periods of invasion, Saint Dévote’s remains were moved for their safety to the Benedictine Monastery of Cimiez in Nice, France.

Relics of Saint Dévote; Credit – By Pramzan – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7464794

Today, Saint Dévote’s relics are located in Monaco at the Cathedral of Monaco and the Chapel of Relics in the Chapel of Saint Dévote, and at several churches in Corsica. A recent study of Saint Dévote’s relics confirmed many of the traditional conclusions: they are the remains of a young woman who was probably killed by blows, and the various bones remaining in the Principality of Monaco and Corsica belong to the same body.

The interior of the Chapel of Saint Dévote; Credit – By Benoît Prieur – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112288196

The original chapel was restored, enlarged, and rebuilt several times over the centuries. In 1870, during the reign of Prince Charles III, the facade was refurbished and the 15-meter/50-foot tall bell tower was built. The front steps, marked with the initials S and D for Saint Dévote and topped with a crown and flanked by decorative motifs in white and black pebbles, were created by the Del Torchio brothers in 1880. Between 1885 and 1891, Charles Lenormand, the architect of the Cathedral of Monaco and the Saint-Charles Church, was responsible for refurbishing and extension work in an 18th-century Neo-Greek style. The chapel became the parish church in 1887.

The stained glass windows made by Maison Nicolas Lorin of Chartres were damaged during the bombing of Monaco in August 1944 during World War II. They were restored or refurbished by Maison Fassi Cadet of Nice in 1948.

Princess Charlene offering her bouquet to Saint Dévote at the Chapel of Saint Dévote after her wedding to Prince Albert II in 2011; Credit – CoutureAndRoyals on X

It has become a tradition for the bride of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco to leave her bridal bouquet at the Chapel of Saint Dévote after the wedding. Princess Grace did so in 1956 and Princess Charlene continued the tradition in 2011.

How is Saint Dévote’s Day celebrated?

The Chapel of Saint Dévote, in the background, where the January 26 Mass is held with the boat that will be lit on fire in the foreground

On the evening of January 26, the Princely Family of Monaco and others attend a Mass called la Messe des Traditions – the Mass of Traditions – said in Monegasque at the Chapel of Saint Dévote, followed by a blessing for those who died at sea.

After the Mass on January 26, events relating to Saint Dévote are remembered. Saint Dévote’s relics arrive at the port on a boat, recalling the arrival of her remains in Monaco. A dove is released, recalling the dove that guided the ship.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene light the boat (2012)

The Princely Family lights a boat on fire, recalling the attempt to steal the relics foiled by the sailors setting fire to the thieves’ boat. The evening ends with a fireworks display over Port-Hercule, Monaco’s deep-water port.

Prince Albert II and his fiancee Charlene Wittstock attend Mass at the Cathedral of Monaco during the Saint  Dévote festivities on January 27, 2011. Saint Dévote’s relics are in the foreground.

On January 27, a Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral of Monaco attended by the Princely Family, government officials, and members of the public.

The Solemn Procession of Saint Dévote’s relics

The Mass is followed by a Solemn Procession of the Saint Dévote’s relics. The procession stops at the Place du Palais where an honor guard pays tribute to them. A priest blesses the Princely Family and the relics. The procession then goes to La Rampe Major, an uphill footpath from the Place du Palais leading to the Rock of Monaco, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. At Monaco’s highest point, a priest blesses Monaco and its people. The procession proceeds to the Cathedral of Monaco where the final blessing is for the sea and the fisherman.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Horsman, Stephanie. (2023). How to celebrate Monaco’s patron saint: Sainte Devote – Monaco Life. Monaco Life. https://monacolife.net/how-to-celebrate-monacos-patron-saint-sainte-devote/
  • Monaco. Prince’s Palace. (2018.). Celebrations of Saint Devote. Palais Princier de Monaco. https://www.palais.mc/en/news/h-s-h-prince-albert-ii/event/2018/january/celebrations-of-saint-devote-2018-3410.html
  • Paroisse Sainte-Dévote – Diocèse de Monaco. (2023). https://saintedevote.diocese.mc/
  • Sainte Dévote Day / Symbols / History and Heritage / Government & Institutions / Portail du Gouvernement – Monaco. (2024). Gouv.mc. https://en.gouv.mc/Government-Institutions/History-and-Heritage/Symbols/Sainte-Devote-Day
  • ‌Saint Devote Traditional Celebrations. (2024). HelloMonaco. https://www.hellomonaco.com/news/latest-news/saint-devote-traditional-celebrations/
  • ‌The Events in Monaco | Sainte Dévote Monaco. (2018). Sainte Dévote Monaco |. https://www.saintedevotemonaco.com/en/saint-devote-patron-saint-of-monaco/the-official-events/the-events-in-monaco/
  • Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Devota. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devota
  • Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Église Sainte-Dévote de Monaco. Wikipedia. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Sainte-D%C3%A9vote_de_Monaco
  • Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Sainte-Dévote Chapel. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-D%C3%A9vote_Chapel

Netherlands – Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day) – Third Tuesday of September

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Willem-Alexander accompanied by Queen Máxima reads the Speech from the Throne, 2015; Credit – Wikipedia

On Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day), the third Tuesday of September, the Sovereign King or Queen of the Netherlands addresses a joint session of the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives to give the Speech from the Throne, setting out the government policy for the new parliamentary session. The States General of the Netherlands, the legislature of the Netherlands, meets at the Binnenhof, a complex of government buildings in The Hague, Netherlands. Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is the seat of government.

The Binnenhof, a gothic castle built in the 13th century, was originally the residence of the Counts of Holland. The Speech from the Throne is given in the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights), a large Gothic hall within the Binnenhof, which has stained glass windows depicting the coats of arms of Dutch towns and cities and a timber roof structure with the appearance of an upturned ship.

The throne of the of the Netherlands in the Ridderzaal; Credit – Wikipedia

The throne of the Netherlands, designed by Pierre Cuypers, a Dutch architect who designed the Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum, is kept at the Ridderzaal.

History

Prince of Orange is a title originally associated with the sovereign Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. Willem I (the Silent), Prince of Orange (reigned 1559 – 1584, assassinated) is the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau, and the ancestor of the Dutch monarchs. When Willem’s childless cousin René of Châlon, Prince of Orange died in 1544, he left the Principality of Orange to Willem. Over the years, the title Prince of Orange became prestigious in the Netherlands and throughout the Protestant world despite losing the territory that had originally gone with the title. The Princes of Orange were also Stadtholders of various Dutch provinces during the period of the Dutch Republic and gained much power.

After the defeat of Napoleon, Willem VI, Prince of Orange, urged on by the powers who met at the Congress of Vienna, proclaimed the Netherlands a monarchy on March 16, 1815. After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and his second exile, the Congress of Vienna formally confirmed Willem VI, Prince of Orange as the hereditary ruler, King Willem I, of what was known as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, the title Prince/Princess of Orange is held by the heir apparent of the Dutch monarch and the Dutch Royal Family are members of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Prinsjesdag originally celebrated the birthday of Willem V, Prince of Orange (reigned 1751 – 1806) and was celebrated on his birthday, March 8. After the establishment of the Netherlands as a kingdom, Prinsjesdag was the day on which the monarch delivered the speech from the throne in the presence of the Dutch legislature. The Constitution has always determined the date the Dutch legislature opens and the date has changed over the years. According to Article 65 of the Dutch Constitution, “every third Tuesday in September the King or a person on his behalf shall make a statement in a plenary session of the States General on the policy to be pursued by the Government.”

What Happens?

Prinsjesdag 1975 during the reign of Queen Juliana – Ridderzaal; Credit – Wikipedia

At 12:30 PM on Prinsjesdag, the members of the Senate and House of Representatives enter the Ridderzaal, taking seats directly in front of the throne and to the left and the right of the throne. The government ministers and state secretaries sit to the left on the throne and the members of the Council of State sit behind them. The ministers and state secretaries sit to the left of the throne. Behind them sit members of the Council of State, the government’s highest advisory body. They all sit in an area enclosed by wooden barriers symbolizing that the head of state (the monarch) is in conference with the Dutch legislature.

The High Councils of State, senior civil servants, high-ranking officers of the armed forces, senior members of the judiciary, the King’s/Queen’s Commissioner of South Holland, the mayor of The Hague, and guests sit outside the wooden barriers.

The Golden Coach on Prinsjesdag 2014, during the reign of King Willem-Alexander; By Minister-president Rutte from Nederland (+31) – Den Haag, dinsdag 16 september- prinsjesdag 2014, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35438337

At 1:00 PM, the Dutch monarch usually accompanied by members of the Dutch royal family, leaves Noordeinde Palace in The Hague and travels to the Binnenhof in the Golden Coach and sometimes Glass Coach.

King Willem-Alexander arriving at the Binnenhof in 2014; Credit – Wikipedia

When the Dutch monarch arrives at the Binnenhof, a band plays the Wilhelmus, the national anthem. The monarch and other royal family members salute the color of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, the oldest regiment in the Dutch armed forces, and enter the Ridderzaal.

Ushers appointed by the President of the Senate, from both houses of the legislature, receive the Dutch monarch and royal family members at the entrance to the Ridderzaal. The President of the Senate, who serves as President of the States General during a joint session, announces the monarch’s arrival, and all those present stand. The Dutch monarch proceeds to the throne and delivers the Speech from the Throne written by the Prime Minister and the cabinet, announcing the plans for the new parliamentary year.

After the Speech from the Throne is delivered, the President of the Senate proclaims “Leve de koning!” (“Long live the King!”) or “Leve de koningin!” (“Long live the Queen!”). All present answer with “Hoera! Hoera! Hoera!” (in English Hooray! Hooray! Horray!). The ushers escort the Dutch monarch and the royal family members out of the chamber.

Balcony Scene from 2008 during the reign of Queen Beatrix – Left to Right: Pieter van Vollenhoven, Princess Margriet, Queen Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander, then Prince of Orange, Queen Máxima, then Princess Máxima, Princess Laurentien, and Prince Constantijn

The Dutch monarch and members of the royal family return to Noordeinde Palace. At 2:00 PM, members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony to the cheers of the crowds.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bijdragers aan Wikimedia-projecten. (2003). Dag waarop de troonrede wordt uitgesproken. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinsjesdag
  • Kingdom of the Netherlands Index. (2014). Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/current-monarchies-article-index/dutch-royals-index/
  • ‌Prinsjesdag. (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinsjesdag
  • Ridderzaal. (2024). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridderzaal