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A total of 180 correspondents of various nationalities had sought places in the Great Church. Said Queen Wilhelmina reputedly to the Cabinet Minister responsible, "Do you not think four would be enough?" It was explained to Her Majesty that times are changing, and ultimately 108 correspondents were established in a press box, with the result that the ceremony was covered well and favorably in newsorgans throughout the world, except in Germany.
There no Nazi could forgive the German-born bridegroom for saying, "I feel Hollandish now, completely Hollandish." Hollanders were heard to grouse and grumble a bit in the streets last week at just one thing Hollandish. Thousands had contributed, to buy as a wedding present for their beloved Crown Princess, a romantic, seagoing Royal Yacht on which she and her Prince Consort could cruise to The Netherlands Indies on—the other side of the world. They were dashed indeed when Queen Wilhelmina. who has never visited her Empire, ruled against the seagoing yacht, although Juliana has never visited the Empire either. Her Majesty was graciously pleased to create displeasure by ordering the money spent to buy a Dutch canal yacht, partly to do over the newlyweds' palace.
Orange Wedding— Kept girlishly secret by buxom Juliana until she actually appeared as a bride on her wedding day was the nature of her dress, concealed under an ermine cape as she stepped into the glittering gold Royal Coach with Prince Bernhard. He was in the blue-braided black uniform of the Blue Hussars, with red military sash and black shako surmounted by red plumes. Eight coal-black horses drew them and behind came four horses drawing the coach of widowed Queen Wilhelmina with whom rode the widowed German mother of the bridegroom, discreetly sporty Princess Armgard zu Lippe-Biesterfeld (cigarets, fast cars and cocktails in moderation). Lined up outside the ancient Great Church were 60 apple-cheeked college classmates of Her Royal Highness, a double line of cadets from The Netherlands Indies in grim trench helmets, a single line of Royal Navy Cadets in parade dress and "100,000 Dutch girls," thousands in national finery—not the everyday Dutch peasant bonnet but the gala holiday bonnet with embroidery and ornaments of actual gold, these representing solid Dutch peasant savings of many lifetimes. In The Netherlands nobody ever snatches or steals such ornaments, and woe to whoever should! Alighting, the bride & bridegroom went indoors to be united in civil marriage by the Burgomaster of The Hague, and to sign the register. No Dutch burgomaster ever omits to lecture a Dutch couple on this occasion severely and at great length, pointing out that marriage is no bed of roses, duty comes before pleasure, wealth is the visible reward of industrious virtue, and honesty the inescapable policy. This Dutch-uncle lecture, and the smart blow of the Burgomaster's gavel with which he knocked the pair down to each other, Juliana & Bernhard bore with placid disregard of how much time was passing, but in the Great Church across the street impatience grew.