Re: not to be blamed on QB only Archived Message
Posted by Henri M on October 23, 2012, 5:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Statebanquet necklace stuart parure"
Well, it is not always the Queen's fault. When the socalist President François Mitterrand made a State Visit to the Netherlands, it was in the fullest splendour possible. All in white tie, even Princess Juliana came to the banquet and the French guests slept in the beautiful Empire guest suites of the Royal Palace. When the gaullist President Jacques Chirac made a State Visit to the Netherlands, he preferred a black tie banquet and the Elysée made known the President preferred to stay in a hotel instead of the palace. When the German Bundespräsident made a State Visit to the Netherlands, the usually so business-like Germans however were treated with a fullblown white tie event with all égards. It is not purely the Queen's fault: she listens to the wishes of the host. In the UK Queen Elizabeth simply ignores the wishes of the guests: white tie is white tie, even when the guests come in suit-and-tie (Chinese President). The overall result is a bit peculiar, if you ask me. The only thing I 'blame' Queen Beatrix is that she makes her State Banquets too businesslike by not inviting Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, her sisters Princess Irene and Princess Christina, the head of that other royal family in the Netherlands (the Duke of Parma) and guests from the aristocracy as was the use in days gone. The argument that Princess Irene and Princess Christina are no members of the RF is far-sought. For such a banquet often artists, sportsmen, businessmen, good relations, civil and military authorities are invited, with their partners. I fail to see why not add extra couverts for a few more royals and nobles, they for sure would add more sparkle indeed. The same can be said about the Hofdames and Dames du Palais: in ye olde days they wore diadems as well.
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