Juliana, our former Queen, died yesterday. She would have been 95 next month. And a few hours after losing her mother, the Queen became a grandmother for the 3rd time: Prince Constantijn's wife gave birth to a baby boy early this morning, Claus-Casimir. Seems like the House of Orange will go on, at least for another generation.
I was born and grew up during Juliana's reign. She was a warm and caring woman, everyone's favourite grandmother, quite different apparently from her mother (who became Queen on the death of her father way back in 1890) and from her own daughter, who is much more brisk and business-like (but who has done a splendid job as Queen, I think, since taking the oath in 1980).
Strange to think that she's gone. It seemed as if she was going to go on forever, although she hadn't been seen in public for a while. Her death, it's not unexpected...yet in a way, it is.
I was born and grew up during Juliana's reign. She was a warm and caring woman, everyone's favourite grandmother, quite different apparently from her mother (who became Queen on the death of her father way back in 1890) and from her own daughter, who is much more brisk and business-like (but who has done a splendid job as Queen, I think, since taking the oath in 1980).
Strange to think that she's gone. It seemed as if she was going to go on forever, although she hadn't been seen in public for a while. Her death, it's not unexpected...yet in a way, it is.
- Current Mood:
pensive - Current Music:'The Girl from Ipanema' - Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto
Comments
A bit like our Queen Mother.
a few hours after losing her mother, the Queen became a grandmother for the 3rd time
One in, one out. Your poor Queen. This grandchild will be forever linked to her memory of the death of her mother.
It's Mothering Sunday here in the UK, so not good a day for losing your mother. Not that any day would be a good day.
I suppose you're right. Poor little mite - not even 2 days old and already marked down as having an appalling sense of timing...
On the other hand, he may take her mind off her loss a bit, and prove a comfort. Also because he has been given the name of her husband, Claus, who died just a year and a half ago.
Wow Juul, I never thought you were that famous! Respect.
It seems to me as if it doesn't really matter whether you live in a constitutional monarchy or a republic...although having said that, I'm kind of glad I live in the former not in the later. More of a chance at pageantry...plus it's quite an unnecessary weight off your shoulders not to have to elect another figurehead every so many years.
I've always thought monarchies were pretty cool, unless they were despotic. And hey, got the despotism right here at home, without the pageantry! ::grinds teeth::
Well, at least you've got the chance to vote Bush out of office this coming November...though it remains to be seen whether the alternative is any better.
Same with me, really. I only found out late Saturday evening when a friend phoned and mentioned it. And wasn't that just like her, going quietly in the weekend? It's as if she was thumbing her nose at the media one last time! ;-)
So we mourn her death too.
An American baby girl named after our Queen? I'm intrigued! There must be a story there...c'mon, let's have it!
2 World Wars, the Great Depression, exile, the former colonies (Indonesia & Suriname; we're still hanging on to the Antilles) achieving independent status, the rebuilding of the country after the devastation of the war and then the Flood of 1953 setting everything back again...women's suffrage...an aborted revolution attempt...yes, I suppose she did live through some remarkable times!