The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-27
QUEEN WILHELMINA's HAND.
Candidates for 1t Who Have Hitherto
Had No Success

Following your instructions your corre-,
spondent came up 10 The Hague to see
what truth there might be in the recent
story which had obtained such wide Gre
dence regarding the betrothal OF Hollands
young sovereign The result is that he
found the story to be one of at least twen-
~ that have been published since the
Queen assembled the throne in 1898. with no
more foundation than any of its predeces-
sors.
The three candidates accredited by these
in the know" here, and-bg public. opinion
generally throughout Holland as suitors
for the Queens hand are all grandsons of
Dutch prineesses.
A short time ago the supposed favored
candidate was Prince Bernard of Sake
Weimar, whose grandmother was the sis
ter Of William Ill and his sole heir. HID
the old King not married again, no doubt
the prince would have been called TO the
throne of Holland. renouneing his rights
in Saxe-Weimar to his brother.
Tue second candidate, and for long
time a very popular enc. whose name has
been put forward frequently, is Prince
William OF Weld, whose grandmother on
his fathers side is a princess of Nassau
Grange. and whose mother, cousin Of
William III, is said to be the favored can
didate Of the queen mother. but is rather
lock to the prince consort Ito Hollandize''
himself.
Then came in the third rank, the scns Of
Prince Albert OF PrGssia the regent Of
Brunswick. among whom Prince Frederic
Henry is mentioned. His graH1mother
was Princess Marianne of Holland. the
late kings aunt. who was divorced from
her royal husband in 1919. married her
valet. and ended by leaving her fortune Of
Sc, Coo. eco marks to her son, Prince Al
bert.
To all this speculative rumor. however,
Queen Wilhelmina merely shrugs her
shoulders. She is a determined young la
dy, with a viii of her own. and has long
since made up her mind that she and she
alone is the one 10 decide upon the choice
OF prince consort for her quaint little
country. In fact. she has been heard TO
say that those who think they may be able
to dictate to her in this respect never
made a greater error.
Whoever may win her hand and heart
for. according to her principles. the heart
must go with the hand-complications are
bound TO arise.
The Dutch protocol is already asking it
self. VIII the husband of the Queen be
authorized to call himself King? VIII he
be invested with the prerogatives of a
prince eonsort. or will he retain the rank
he held before his marriage?
If the future husband obtains only the
title OF Queen husband. Dutch law
would not consider him a member of tt,
royal family. nor would he enjoy either thu
rights or privileges of royal highness.'
In such a case he would be merely one OF
the Queens subjects. and as such could be
summoned before the courts of the king
dom for any crime or misdemeanor, not ex-
cepting Iese majestic
In the mean time Wilheimina is very
happy little woman. quite satisfied with
her present state and by no means wish
ing to hasten on to further responsibilities.
political marriage she holds in abhor-
renee and it need not by surprising II.
when she finally gives her heart. she
chooses some one as yet unmentioned or
undreamed of.