Dutch Queen Bea's Abdications and the Return of a King

Today marks a momentous event for Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Europe, Royalty and of course, all of us who have ever read a fairy tale where the King was crowned all ends happily ever after. There is something mythic about a Royal Coronation. In marking the end of one reign, it heralds the hopes and dreams to come from the new order. In some tales the crowning of the King brings with it the restoration of the old order, the good and longed-for order, and thereby a return to a time of peace and prosperity. And though Beatrix's reign has been nothing but a reign of dignified and noble beauty, the symbolism of this special event cannot be ignored.

With the coming of King Wilhem Alexader, the eldest son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, no doubt many begin to feel a flood of joy fill their breasts and a surge of pride in their souls for this new monarch who, in my opinion, reflects something important to and for us all. Even though royalty is now most often reduced to mere figure head, useful for cutting ribbons and turning keys to mark the opening of a new museum and occasionally the face for magazine covers and gossip mags, at the heart of royalty stands the image of One we want to believe is special, elected, anointed and wise. Whether it be King David, King Charlemagne, Queen Elizabeth or Princess Grace of Monaco, each dances before our eyes as a member of the long reign of Kings and Queens who have ruled over lands and peoples for centuries. And though there have been royals of ill repute or worse, some royalty has risen to the level their status demands, using their unique powers to sow peace where there was discord, inspire beauty through talented artists and musicians, and bring plenty where there at one time was none. 

And as we look up at the new Royal Family on the balcony of the Old Palace in the heart of downtown Amsterdam, are we not also reminded of what it means to look up to someone? For does not man by nature look up to others in order to grow perhaps in wisdom, in confidence, in hope or in inspiration? Whether it is Winston Churchill during war time, Babe Ruth helping his team to win the World Series or  King Henry V ascending his throne after the battle of Agnincourt, these larger than life characters show us how to become larger than ourselves through the development of our minds, our bodies and our hearts. It is by such inspiration that we can rise to defend our country, urge our team to victory or act nobly in the face of fear.

And yet I am also reminded that, as in all lives, royalty bears its own amount of sufferings, whether it be the loss of a child, the death of a mother or the shame of public disgrace. Royalty, though seemingly above the ordinary, is not free from the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." I recall a scene from my own life of the tragic death of Princess Diana of Windsor back in the 1990's. I was in Paris with Perry on the Champs Elysée the night of Princess Diana's tragic collision and I will never forget how, during the morning after when we walked with ours coffees and croissants in hand, a girl's scream shattered the air and then the words, "La Princess est mort!" stunned us all into silence. This sad news came as a shock and a terrible loss to many, and no more so then my own dear Father, who I later learned shed tears as he watched her televised funeral and said, "I always liked her."

How can we explain these grand, almost operatic emotions for people we barely know but through televised events, newspaper articles and glossy photographs? Might it be because we have a natural disposition to share in the emotions of others, like ravens who will gather over a dead friend and even bring items to lay over him before they lift their wailing voices in chorus? Surely it is something deeper than mere curiosity or fantasy...

And yet today is not a day of sorrow but a day of rejoicing, and on this day before the Queen's Birthday all of Amsterdam is rejoicing with the color ORANGE splashed everywhere: hats, coats, ties, flowers, giants plastic glasses and silly orange tiaras. Today we are reminded of the joy of the Queen and the coming of the King, a coming that announces the hope for a new order, a time of renewed peace and a new and brighter future for all.

And whether we are celebrating along side the Royals in Amsterdam or watching the celebration from the comfort of our own living rooms, each of us feels the swell of hope inside each one of us, the hope that we too might rise to the occasion when we are called out of the crowd to bear the heavy crown of whatever task or challenge we are called to fulfill. And in so doing, may we always be able to look up to our kings, whoever they may be, to give us wisdom, to give us strength and inspire the paths of our journeys with seeds of hope.