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Brussels, Saturday November 22nd 1902

The streets of Brussels are dark and sombre. Church bells peel to remind the people of the sad occasion of this day, the day Crown prince Albert, count of Holland and lord of Liège is being buried after being shot by an Italian anarchist. The young United Kingdom of the Netherlands (Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, Royaume Uni des Belges) faces it's biggest constitutional crisis in it's 32 year old history. Good old Thorbecke could never imagine this when King Leopold commissioned him with a new constitution for the United Kingdom (of the Netherlands) but politics is not on the mind of the people. All mourn and grief for the slain prince and his widow Princess Elisabeth. Their son Prince Leopold is too little to realize what happened. Perhaps, for now it's for the best.

It is customary even for the King to walk after the hearse but King Leopold is clearly unable. Walking is getting harder by the day and sadness over the loss of his beloved cousin makes the walk impossible to do. In a breach of protocol a carriage is being arranged for the king. After mass the hearse is brought to Laeken where Albert is laid to rest in the family tomb.... The sadness of the death of Albert breaks Leopolds heart. He never recovers of the shock.

Amsterdam, Saturday November 22nd 1902

"Whilst this country mourns the son of an immoral king, the workmen suffer and children go hungry at night. And what does Leopold do? Well? Nothing!!! He goes of to London or Paris to enjoy himself whilst others nearly die on the streets!" These are not the words of a socialist. On this Saturday Abraham Kuyper, Leader of the ARP (Anti-Revolutionaire Partij, Anti-Revolution Party) lectures the students of the Vrije Universiteit (Free University) "We are the party of the "kleine luyden" (the poor) and we demand justice for the poor and the vote for the lower classes."

In the Jordaan the same demands are heard albeit less civilized. The Social Democrats of Piter Jelles Troelstra demonstrate against the Liberal government in Brussels. The police however does not wait long to arrest those upstarts. Troelstra and other socialists are jailed. No-one must dare to disregard the mourning of King Leopold especially not the Social Democrats. It was one of them who killed Prince Albert...
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