![]()
The upcoming visit of the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands to New York this September brings back memories of another Royal Visit, fifty years ago. Her Majesty Queen Beatrix – then Princess- stole the hearts of the New Yorkers in 1959, as part of the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage.
Princess Beatrix sailed into New York Harbor aboard the new Holland-America liner, the Rotterdam, on September 11. During her eleven-day stay, the New York Times reported her every move. The Princess’ arrival stunned their reporter: ‘Bolstered by three rousing cheers from the Dutch crew, the composed and smiling future queen stepped onto a red carpet. The blond, pink-cheeked Beatrix, wearing a navy-blue suit with a white organdy portrait collar and a close-fitting green feather hat that did not hide the golden highlights of her hair, stepped engagingly into the strenuous barrage of official entertainment planned for her.’
The Princess wanted to meet "as many regular Americans" as she could and they came out to meet her at a variety of events as far north as Albany.
The public highlight of Princess Beatrix’s visit was a ‘ticker-tape parade’ in New York City. New Yorkers welcomed the Princess to their city as she drove in a Cadillac from Battery Park to City Hall. She was accompanied by the President of the New York City Hudson Celebration Committee William Zeckendorff and Richard C. Patterson Jr., Commissioner of Commerce and Public Events. The New York Times reported that ‘ A noon-hour crowd estimated at 200.000 welcomed her along the way. The confetti and paper strips that poured from windows were in appropriately pastel shades as the Princess and marching contingents of Dutch and American servicemen made their way up Broadway.’
On September 14, Princess Beatrix had a luncheon with President Eisenhower and the First Lady at the White House. A few days later, she traveled up along the Hudson and met with Governor Nelson Rockefeller and his wife, and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Roosevelt mansion in Hyde Park.
The 21 year old Princess also made her first official speech at City Hall Park, in attendance of Mayor Wagner. ‘While, of course, we realize that millions of people have come from other European countries to make New York the important world center it is today, we still feel a most particular affection for what was once “Nieuw Amsterdam”’, the Princess said. ‘This affection does not only spring from the memories of past glory. We feel a close friendship to the people of this country, because we share the same belief in human dignity, in the freedom of man and in the right of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’
Princess Beatrix also visited the West End Collegiate Church, a performance by the New York City Ballet, Westpoint, the new KLM Royal Dutch Airlines building, and Governors Island (where she met with the Dutch community), among others.
view features from all categories
Send To Friend
Please wait ...
