Holland’s New Queen Commences Reign

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1948, Page 7

Holland’s New Queen Commences Reign

AMSTERDAM, Sept 6. Jueen Puliana took the oath as Sovereign ruler of the Netherlands Kingdom in a simple, impressive ceremony at Amsterdam’s New Church to-day. Princess Margaret represented His Majesty among the 300 guests who heard Queen Juliana make her vow at the same place on the same date as her mother, Queen Wilhelmina, when she became an 18-year-old Queen 50 years ago. Queen Juliana was installed without a religious ceremony and without being crowned, as the glittering crown on the table in front of the thrown was merely a symbol of the Queen’s position. The Queen sat on the ancient gilt chair, which is always used for this ceremony. Prince Bernhard sat on her left. Silver trumpets sounded a fanfare when the heralds made the proclamation. Queen Juliana wore a sapphire blue robe of hand-woven silk in classical style, with train. Over it she wore the scarlet coronation mantle which her mother used in 1898. Thousands of people had lined the streets all night to catch a glimpse of the Queen as she drove to the church in a gold coach. HEAVY TASK AHEAD Queen Juliana, addressing the people, before taking her vow, said she was filled with sadness, but “it is a consolation to me that I am able to relieve my mother of a great burden. Since Friday I have been called to a task so heavy, that no one who has the least notion of it would desire it, but also so splendid that I can only ask: Who am I that I should be allowed to perform it?” Queen Juliana said Holland must I remain afloat amid the storms of/ world events. The awful crimes committed in the world in the. past 20 years had resulted in spiritual degeneration. To combat this- they must educate youth to be free people on a spiritual basis and with a strong sense of responsibility towards others. As her first act of government as Queen, Queen Juliana decorated her mother with the Knight’s Cross. Later Queen Juliana decorated Princess Margaret with the “Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion” at the Dam Palace.