Harmonious Conclusion

The House of Orange has no taste for black headlines. Last week the Dutch royal couple issued a brief communique on the findings of three elder statesmen appointed to advise them last June. "[They] have reported their findings to us and given us advice. Their advice has been a very valuable contribution to the solution of difficulties which had arisen. We now look forward to the future with confidence." The communique was signed by Juliana and Bernhard.

For those skilled in reading such communications, the message was all there. But for those who still had questions, Dutch newspaper editors were summoned to The Hague's Noordeinde Palace. They were told that 47-year-old Juliana and her 45-year-old German prince were determined to work things out together. A government spokesman made it clear that "the Queen has decided to entertain no more relations either direct or indirect with Miss [Greet] Hofmans," the faith healer whose influence over Queen Juliana caused a royal rift (TIME, June 25). Nor would Juliana attend any more religious conferences at ex-Queen Wilhelmina's country palace, Het Loo, where Greet Hofmans held sway over a religious-minded group of peace enthusiasts.

The three distinguished royal advisers acknowledged that some changes in the royal palace were "possible." Presumably on their way out were Baron van Heeckeren van Molecaten, the Queen's private secretary, and his mother, grand mistress at court. Both friends of the faith healer, they won ascendancy at court (to the distress of Bernhard's friends and of many Dutch politicos) after the faith healer moved into the palace, hoping to effect a cure by prayer on nine-year-old Princess Marijke, who was born nearly blind.

And just to quash rumors that Juliana might abdicate, it was announced that the heir presumptive, Princess Beatrix, 18, would begin studies this term at Leiden University, where her mother won an honorary doctorate in literature and philosophy at 21. These matters settled, Juliana and Bernhard flew off to Corfu for a holiday with the Greek royal family. Their loyal subjects (who have been told very little of all that has gone on) were assured by an Amsterdam newspaper that for Juliana and Bernhard "this interlude in the land of classical harmony and joy of living" would mark "the equally harmonious conclusion of a difficult period."

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