May 1910: From left to right, back row: Haakon VII of Norway, Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, Manuel II of Portugal, Wilhelm II of Germany, George I of Greece and Albert I Of Belgium. Front row: Alphonso XIII of Spain, George V and Frederick VIII of Denmark. The funeral on 20th May was the largest gathering of European royalty – and its last hurrah. Also present at the funeral was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination four years later would spark the Great War – which collapsed many royal dynasties of Europe. Manuel of Portugal would be driven from his throne by revolutionaries within months of this picture. George of Greece would be assassinated. Alphonso, Wilhelm and Ferdinand would lose their thrones.
I'd hate to be on guard duty that day. Imagine the back ache you'd get through all the bowing. Not counting the wives and also their children.
ReplyDeleteImpressive. Now that's why I call a photo opportunity, not the dull allure you routinely get at modern G7 gatherings and the like.
ReplyDeleteGentlemen,
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice post, and it is a great photo indeed.
I do wonder, however, if there is not competition for the position of European royalty's "last hurrah." What about the Britannic coronation in June 1911?