The 2019 Royal Gatherings In The Hague: A Summary Of Events

Statue of Willem van Oranje (1533-1584) Den Haag

The 7th Royal Gatherings in The Hague was held on Saturday, 9 November, and Sunday, 10 November, at the Park Hotel. Hosted by Eurohistory and Booksellers Van Hoogstraten, this annual event continues to bring together royal historians and enthusiasts from around the world. It is a true treat to be able to attend this function - one is able to meet long-time friends and make new acquaintances (who quickly turn into friends) while everyone indulges in their abiding and deep interest in royal history. On Saturday, attendees heard five lectures that were delivered by both well-known authors and up-and-coming royal historians.

The programme for the 1st Day of the 2019 Royal Gatherings in The Hague

The topics and speakers were as follows:

• "The Descendants of Prince Franz of Bavaria and Princess Isabella of Croÿ" by Seth B. Leonard
• "Mary Tudor: Daughter, Sister, Wife, and Queen" by Marian Bette
• "Royal Funerals in England" by Robert Golden
• "Castles and Palaces in Württemberg" by Susan Symons
• "Kingsday/Koningsdag: A Royal Celebration" by Oscar Meijer

Seth B. Leonard is an American contributing writer at the European Royal History Journal.

Marian Bette is a Dutch royal historian with a particular focus on the fascinating female members of the Tudor dynasty. 

Robert Golden is a British historian and the author of the following publications: Relatively Royal: A Personal View, The Golden Book of Royalty: Relatively Speaking, Definitely Royal, Connaught: A Royal Family Album, and Albany: One Dynasty, Two Destinies (co-written with Arturo E. Beéche).

Susan Symons is a British historian (with, as you will see, an avid passion for exploring and documenting the schlösser of Germany) and the author of the following publications: Schloss: The Fascinating Royal History of 25 German Castles, Schloss II: More Fascinating Royal History of German Castles, Young Victoria: The Colourful Personal Life of Queen Victoria, Victoria & Albert: The Colourful Personal Life of Queen Victoria - Part 2, Schloss III: The Fascinating Royal History of 25 Castles in Central Germany, Schloss in Bavaria: The Fascinating Royal History of German Castles, Victoria the Widowed Queen: The Colourful Personal Life of Queen Victoria - Part 3, and Schloss in Baden-Württemberg: The Fascinating Royal History of German Castles.

A fervent devotee of the Royal House of The Netherlands, Oscar Meijer served as one of the organisers of the Koningsdag 2019 Amersfoort festivities. We were all treated to Oranje Bitter after Oscar's lecture: it was delightful.

Day One of Royal Gatherings in The Hague (left to right): Robert Golden, Oscar Meijer, Annet Bakker of Booksellers Van Hoogstraten, Arturo Beéche of Eurohistory, Susan Symons, and Seth Leonard. Missing from this picture is Marian Bette.

On Sunday, we were treated to five lectures on a wide variety of royal and imperial topics.

The programme for the 2nd Day of the 2019 Royal Gatherings in The Hague

The presentations and speakers were as follows:

• "The Emirs of Bokhara" by Alexander Borg
• "The Wedding of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia and Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna of Russia" by Seth B. Leonard
• "The Theft of the Hessian Jewels" by Katie Tice
• "The Meanderings of a Royal Auctioneer: Fabergé and Romanov Objects" by Edgar Clin
• "The Duc de Penthièvre" by Arturo Béeche

Alexander Borg is a retired British educator who possesses an acute interest and deep knowledge of the dynasties and royal families of the Middle East and Asia. 

Katie Tice is an American lawyer who brings her legal eye to lend others a keen look at the royal subjects that she studies. Katie has written many articles for the European Royal History Journal. She is currently engaged in research that will culminate in a joint biography of the daughters-in-law of Kaiser Wilhelm II: Crown Princess Cecilie (née Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin), Princess Sophie Charlotte (née Duchess of Oldenburg), Princess Adelheid (née Princess of Saxe-Meiningen), Princess Alexandra Victoria (née Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein), Princess Ina Marie (née Countess von Bassewitz-Levetzow), and Princess Marie Auguste (née Princess of Anhalt). 

Edgar Clin is a Parisian-based auctioneer with a noted expertise in Russian antiquities, especially those related to Fabergé, to the Russian Imperial Family, and to the other royal houses of Europe. 

Arturo Beéche is the Founder of Eurohistory and the Publisher of the European Royal History Journal. He is also the author of over twenty-five books on European royal history. 

Day Two of Royal Gatherings in The Hague (left to right): Edgar Clin, Annet Bakker of Booksellers Van Hoogstraten, Alexander Borg, Arturo Beéche of Eurohistory, Katie Tice, and Seth Leonard.

Many thanks to Annet Bakker and Arturo Beéche for such a fun and informative weekend. We all look forward to next year's Royal Gatherings in The Hague. Heel erg bedankt!