QUEEN BEREAVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 11

QUEEN BEREAVED

NETHERLANDS THRONE PRINCE CONSORT DEAD (Received July 4, 5.5 p.m.) THE HAGUE. July 3 The death is announced of Prince Henry, Prince Consort, following a sudden illness. . The Prince Consort's daughter, Inncess Juliana, who has been paying a visit to England as the guest of Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone at Kensington Palace, is returning home by to-night's boat.

Before his marriage to Queen Wilhelmina Prince Henry of the Netherlands was Duke of Mecklenbui gSchwerin. He was a son of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz 11., and was born at Schwerin, Germany, in April, 1876. He was naturalised in Holland in January, 1901, and married the Queen on February 7, 1901. Prince Henry, who was four years older than Her Majesty, was a great traveller in many lands, India included. He was tall and fair, with clear grey eyes, a firm mouth, and of somewhat retiring manner. He was fond of shooting, riding and driving. At first the Prince found it difficult to adapt himself to the ways of a nation other than his own but in the end Holland came to know and love him. He became persona grata with practically everybody. He distinguished himself in the sphere of life-saving and beneficence. The terrible disaster to the Harwich boat Berlin in 1907 aroused his interest and his gallantry on that occasion endeared him to his subjects. Later he became president of the Red Cross Society, since when he was constantly occupied in furthering the interests of that useful body. The Prince's distinguishing" characteristic was his unaffectedness. The marriage of the Queen in 1901 was a species of national festivity. J.lie civil nuptials took place at the Palace, the religious coremony being celebrated in the Willemskirk in the presence of a great crowd of princes and princesses assembled from various foreign countries. Those were notable days for the otherwise calm residential town of the Netherlands. ' The status of the Royal Consort in Holland was regulated by the Acts of January 14 and February 26, 1901, and be received tho title of Prince of tho Netherlands. A later Act provided that in the event of a Regency becoming necessary it should be carried out by the Queen Mother succeeded only in the .event of her death by the Prince, who was to be assisted in his office by a Council of four. The question of the succession, which in view of the fact that Queen Wilhelmina remained childless for several years had been the subject of much discussion and anxiety, was settled by tho birth on April 30, 1909, of Princess Juliana.