Tired Queen Wilhelmina announced that, “for reasons of health,” she would “temporarily” transfer the business of ruling to her strapping daughter, Princess Juliana.

Queen Wilhelmina was tired. For 49 years, ever since she was a girl of 18 (whom Playwright Edmond Rostand once described as “the little lily queen who rules over the kingdom of tulips”), she had worn the crown—or the somewhat knockabout hats which she preferred.

Like a competent…