Dutch Prince Willem-Alexander on Tuesday escaped serious eye injury when he was hit with the point of an umbrella when he returned to Soestdijk Palade, the former home of his grandparents the late Queen Juliana and the late Prince Bernhard.
The Dutch Prince had turned down the use of an umbrella himself during a walk of the palace gardens, where he inaugurated a new exhibition of statues. The Queen's representative in the Province of Utrecht though unfolded his umbrella, hitting the Prince near the eye. Willem-Alexander escaped with a scare; he was not particularly amused about the incident.
Soestdijk Palace was the home of Juliana and Bernhard form 1936; after both passed away in 2004 the Dutch Royal Family vacated the family home, for decades the symbol of the House of Orange and forever associated with the masses of people passing in front of it on Queen’s Day, Queen Juliana’s birthday on 30 April.
The Dutch government has yet to find a suitable new use for the Palace, which in the mean time has been opened to the public, along with its majestic gardens. It is in these gardens that statues have been placed, to enhance its attraction. © GPD Netherlands Press Association
Comments