The Dutchmen Sir Henry Deterding, Jonkheer Hugo Loudon and Jean-Baptiste Kessler were the founders of today's energy giant Royal Dutch/Shell Oil. A constante in all rumours around the wealth of the Orange-Nassaus is that this is based on a supposed 'golden share' as co-founder/shareholder in this giant multinational.
As one of the very, very few outside the palace, Sir Henry Deterding had direct access to Queen Wilhelmina. This is illustrative enough for his importance to the Queen.
As succesful president of Royal Dutch/Shell Oil, Sir Henry Deterding became one of the world's richest men. He had a quite colourful private life. Usually Queen Wilhelmina, who had relatively puritan views, would disapprove this. Of course the enormous importance of Sir Henry's company for the Dutch economy (and the Queen's fortune) made her to ignore his "mésalliances".
What is interesting: together with her spouse Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the Queen owned a large Rittergut near Dobbin, consisting of a large manor, a park with beautiful alleys, supporting buildings, agricultural grounds and forests. The Rittergut was neighboured by similar properties from the family Thyssen (Krupp) and the family Von Stauss (Deutsche Bank).
When Prince Hendrik died in 1934, his widow Queen Wilhelmina lost her interest in the far away estate and sold it to Sir Henry.
Sadly in 1945 the Soviets seized the property and housed 13.000 former "East Labourers" in the already damaged castle. The castle became very damaged and in the 1950's the DDR government decided to tear it down.
Isn't it fascinating that even a non-royal lady as Lady Lydia Paulovna Deterding née Koudoyarev brings royal links?
on December 9, 2011, 5:17 am, in reply to "