Poem by Queen Beatrix resurfaces in USA

A rare find. A curiosity. A treasure. And frontpage news in the Netherlands: a poem by young Princess Beatrix, written for a young friend in the Summer of 1947. It was revealed by Mrs. Paula Stykel, née Wiessner, who now lives in California, USA. She was a playmate of the young Princesses Beatrix and Irene at the royal palace in Apeldoorn. Paula’s father worked there.

Mrs. Stykel, who earlier contributed some personal memories about young Princess Margriet for the Dutch page of Royalblog.nl, responded to a call from the local newspaper of her former homeown of Apeldoorn. The paper, De Stentor, asked its readers to send in poems specially written for the 70th anniversary of Queen Beatrix, next week.

Paula Stykel remembered she had a poem actually written by the Queen herself and contacted the newspaper, which proudly published the poem - more a rhyme - on Saturday. De Stentor also provided the article to its sister newspapers, united in the Netherlands Press Association, which also owns this website. National papers immediately picked up on the ‘revelation’.

The words of the then nine year old Princess Beatrix are hardly memorable and they are poorly spelled. But since little personal letters, drawings or poems and rhymes surface, the short note is highly valued and appreciated. In Dutch the text reads: ,,Zo lang ik leef/ schrijf ik steets scheef/ Scheef of rechtuit/ Paula jij bent een echte guit/ Dat zeg ik/ Herrennering aan Trix.''

An English, non-rhyming translation might be: "As long as I live/ I continue to write crooked/ crooked or straight/ Paula you are a real rascal/ So say I/ Souvenir of Trix"- with souvenir written something like "soovenier". In its Dutch misspelling (herrennering should write herinnering) perhaps already betraying the peculiar accent and pronounciation Beatrix developed. It is still easily recognizable and often lampooned.

Mrs. Stykel recalled her holidays with the Dutch royals, who spent the Summer at the Loo palace, former residence of English Queen Mary and her Dutch husband King William III. "We usually played in the park. You know, just the games children play. Hide and seek and all that. I remember Queen Wilhelmina would often come out to watch us play." Wilhelmina, Beatrix’ grandmother, would abdicate in favour of her daughter Juliana the following year.

"I knew the Princesses were somehow different than us, but I was just happy to have children to play with. There were not many children of my age around", Paula Stykel said. She described Beatrix and Irene as somewhat shy. Irene (born in 1939) was embarrassed when she accidently dropped a piece of birthdaycake when visiting Paula’s father’s quarters in the Palace.

Mrs. Stykel, now 72, lost contact with the royal family in later life. She eventually settled in California. ,,But we have visited Holland every year and than we also go to Apeldoorn and the palace. It has a special place in my heart", she said.

Queen Beatrix hidden talents were also on display last year September, when Christie’s in Amsterdam successfully auctioned some drawings Beatrix made in her youth. They fetched some 15.000 euro. Most of her early art work was bought by Mr. Aad Ouburg, of the appropiately named Princess company, who proudly displayes royal pictures in all his offices around the globe.

Mr. Ouburg called the drawings "a rare find". "It is not often one has the chance to buy paintings or drawings made by the Queen herself. So we are extremely proud we have been able to purchase them".

© GPD Netherlands Press Association, De Stentor. Illustrations: © GPD De Stentor (courtesy Mrs Stykel), Christie's Amsterdam.