Host: “But he could do nothing. This marriage was beneficial to Wilhelmina’s future, and he prioritized her interests.”
“Advisor: “People in their position must weigh marriage within the context of their interests. Wilhelmina handled this well, though she admitted she hadn’t considered what marriage should be like. Perhaps her lack of expectations allowed her to make this decision. A girl with dreams of marriage and love might find such a situation painful.”
Host: “Wilhelmina seemed to be a late bloomer in romantic feelings.”
Advisor: “This was likely due to her childhood. Her parents divorced before she was born, leaving her without a model of a normal family marriage. Thus, achieving happiness in her marriage was no small feat, and Prince Albert’s contribution was significant.”
Host: “How did Albert view this marriage? It’s challenging to understand him. In media and records, he appears as the perfect husband and father, always a supportive character despite his own talents.”
Advisor: “Only love could achieve this.”
Host (laughing): “Love?”
Advisor: “Yes, love enabled a talented and ambitious man to willingly stay in the background. This required considerable sacrifice. He helped the Queen with official duties, devised strategies, and accompanied her on state visits…”
But whenever the media reported on him, he was always mentioned after the Queen’s name. They rarely reported on his contributions, often glossing over his merits.”
Host: “Because he was the Prince Consort.”
Advisor: “Yes. This is conventional. A royal household can only have one ruler. The Queen tried to highlight her husband’s achievements, supporting his military and technological accomplishments. Although we know the Prince’s outstanding contributions, we cannot praise him too much to avoid overshadowing the Queen. Only after his death could we freely praise him, as he became the father of His Majesty the Emperor, and praising him was praising the Emperor.
Moderator: “It seems being the husband of a queen requires considerable tolerance and perseverance.”
Consultant: “Yes. Without love, this job would be really difficult.”
Moderator (laughing): “When did he fall in love with her?”
Consultant (laughing heartily): “That shouldn’t be complicated. At that time, Wilhelmina was a young, beautiful blonde girl. She was intelligent and clever, noble but approachable. Their similar educational backgrounds naturally gave them many common topics. Young, handsome men and beautiful women falling in love doesn’t require too many external factors – hormones decide everything.”
In the Palace of Paris, where the royal couple lived for 45 years, portraits from various periods of the royal family adorn the walls. Wilhelmina created a small world exclusive to their family, keeping politics outside.
Warmth is the main tone here, with ivory-yellow floral wallpaper, handmade cushions, and mugs made by the children. Crafts by Wilhelmina and the children are preserved in picture frames, and their drawings are carefully collected.
In the portrait titled “Spring Day,” we see the happiness and harmony of the royal family. The husband lifts his son to pick apples while the wife distributes snacks to the children. Sunlight falls on the grass as a small dog chases butterflies. The mother is not a queen, the father not a royal consort, and the children are not princes and princesses. Without attendants or nannies, the scene resembles an ordinary middle-class family. This image reflects the approach Wilhelmina and her husband sought to create, making royalty appear more approachable.
In contrast, Hans Borg’s lifelong bachelorhood has been a topic of discussion. His memoir confirmed speculation that he was deeply in love with the Queen.
The confession in the memoir was subtle yet clear, and Hans Borg instructed that it be published after Wilhelmina’s death to avoid embarrassing her.
Borg’s gentle approach to emotions contrasted with his bold political stance, leading to admiration among women after the memoir’s release. His actions embodied the ideal lover, symbolizing deep love and selfless devotion.
Host: “From Hans Borg’s memoir, we can see his emotional journey with Wilhelmina. Initially, he loved and protected her like a child. (Reading from the book) ‘I finally saw her. She looked so happy and excited, hugging me like she did when she was a child. I realized she had grown to my chin and had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.'”
Six years ago, she was a 12-year-old girl; now, at 18, she was a beautiful young woman. At thirty, Borg was in his prime. Did they not develop even a hint of romantic feelings?
Royal Museum Advisor: “From diaries and memoirs, it’s challenging to find evidence of anything beyond friendship. Queen Wilhelmina was cautious and self-controlled, reflecting her moral upbringing.”
She ensured her relationships were clear and unambiguous, often referring to Hans Borg as ‘my good friend Owen’ or ‘my advisor Owen.’ In his memoir, he called her Willy only as a child, later addressing her as ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Madam.’ Occasionally, when his emotions surfaced, he referred to her as ‘my Willy.’
Host: “Their behavior was very conservative in an era of indulgence.”
Advisor: “They faced social status considerations and were emotionally at a dead end. Albert’s presence offered no way back.”
Host: “Are you suggesting that without Albert, they might have been possible?”
Advisor (laughing): “Rational analysis shows that even without Albert, their chances were slim.”
Host: “I understand the status difference. She was a duchess, and he was her servant. Then she became Queen, and he became Prime Minister.”
Advisor: “That’s part of it. A Prime Minister eventually leaves office. The key is the roles they played in Wilhelmina’s life.”
Host: “Including Prince Albert?”
Advisor: “Yes.”
In Wilhelmina’s childhood, the role of elders was lacking. After being taken to Odin and leaving her aging grandfather, Hans Borg became a father figure, mentor, and caregiver in her life. She was very dependent on him due to his multiple identities. At 12, she was separated from Hans Borg but still viewed him in that way.
Host: “It sounds like an unavoidable tragedy.”
Advisor (laughing): “Pretty much. As Wilhelmina grew up, by 18, her hormones began to react even without her having experienced love. At this point, Albert appeared.”
Host: “A well-matched young gentleman.”
Advisor (laughing): “Yes. They were closer in age, and their relationship was more equal. Albert was not simply a subordinate; they had a cooperative relationship, making him a significant ‘opposite-sex partner’.”
Host (laughing): “I can continue from your point. When Hans Borg returned, he could only maintain his original role. Wilhelmina’s self-discipline helped her restrain her feelings and keep their relationship appropriate.”
Advisor: “Yes.”
She was very rigorous and disciplined; otherwise, she couldn’t have achieved such political success at a young age.”
Host: “We always say life is like a play. This seems to be a story of missed opportunities.”
Advisor: “You could understand it that way.”
Host: “So, Wilhelmina truly had no uncontrolled feelings for Hans Borg?”
Advisor: “If we could ask her heart…”
In the small Louvre, most portraits are related to political occasions. The Queen and Prime Minister Hans Borg often appear together in images. The famous ‘Gaze’ photo captures Hans Borg’s emotional expression towards Wilhelmina.
After Hans Borg’s memoirs were published, old photos and archival footage were organized, sparking speculation about their inner thoughts based on the expressions in the portraits.
