Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"Borrowing someone's power?" Queen Victoria asked curiously: "Whose power is it borrowing from? And what's the use?"

The 20-year-old Princess Louise replied confidently: "We borrowed the oppressive power of Prussia and the long-standing naval supremacy of the British Empire, the world's largest naval power, to create a trend for the Dutch navy to catch up with the British. In turn, it makes people feel that the Netherlands was forced to react."

Queen Victoria's heart moved, and she blurted out: "You are saying that the Netherlands is taking advantage of the trend and announcing a naval tonnage that may be comparable to that of the United Kingdom. Facing the disadvantage of currently lagging behind Prussia, it wants to complete its own radical changes and at the same time, it can also disguise itself. Let the UK be dragged into it and try to put pressure on the UK? How dare he do this?"

Princess Louise shook her head and said to her most admired mother: "William IV is as cunning as a fox. How do you know that he can't or dare not do something that my mother thinks is impossible?"

Queen Victoria sighed in her heart. If the marriage had been successful, perhaps the relationship between the Netherlands and Britain would not be as close or far away as it is now.

During the recent period, the initiative between the UK and the Netherlands seems to be in the hands of the Netherlands, which makes the Queen very uncomfortable. Since the war in South Africa, it seems that every time it faces the Netherlands, the UK will lose its first place. Strong countries have advantages and disadvantages every time.

Princess Louise didn't know what the Queen was thinking. She said: "Some time ago, the Netherlands and the French Empire had a diplomatic crisis between Britain and France because of the Kingdom of Siam. In the end, even with the promotion of the Netherlands, the French Empire triggered many conflicts that even touched Napoleon III. Gray. And this time facing Prussia, will William IV fail?"

Princess Louise's suspicious look made Queen Victoria a little unhappy, so she mocked: "I admit that he is very smart, but don't forget that Bismarck personally acted in Prussia this time. The current confrontation between Prussia and the Netherlands, although the outside world It is said that Bismarck’s opponent was Dutch Prime Minister Tolbeck, but do we really think so? Obviously, in the previous confrontation, the Netherlands lost and Prussia won.”

Princess Louise smiled and said: "I have a different view."

Seeing the surprise in Queen Victoria's eyes, she said: "Everything is turbid at the moment. The Netherlands does not seem to panic or maintain order between advance and retreat. This means that the Netherlands still has some power left to send out. My Majesty the Queen, I I feel that William IV is hiding something. Although I don’t know his specific plan, I am sure that he will not admit defeat, even if that person is Bismarck."

"Oh, it seems you have great confidence in William IV," Queen Victoria joked.

"It's an instinctive thing to do"

"Shall we make a bet?" Queen Victoria asked.

Louise said with caution as a princess: "What are you betting on?"

Queen Victoria: "Since you have so much confidence in him, if you win, I will agree to the request from the Dutch royal family and agree to William IV's replacement for his brother, Prince Frederik, now Crown Prince of Greece (1851, 17 years old)'s proposal"

What!

Princess Louise looked at Queen Victoria in shock.

"Don't look at me like that, come and read this letter. This was sent from Amsterdam a few days ago and was written by William IV himself. In the letter, he very sincerely made a request to me to marry you on behalf of his brother. , I have been hesitant these days. You know, the British people don't like to marry princesses abroad now, let alone marry into the royal family.

However, the current situation in Europe has made British senior officials very worried.

This letter from William IV made me even more hesitant. I just saw that you are so "friendly" to the Netherlands, so I thought, how about making a bet with this? If I win, I will agree to the request of William IV of the Netherlands. If I lose, I will refuse. Of course, if William IV had not married the princess of Denmark and the proposal was made by him this time, I don't mind skipping the gamble. "

Princess Louise had a look of embarrassment on her face.

On her face, she recalled the first meeting in Amsterdam a few years ago and the "interaction" between the two. Princess Louise was actually tempted at that time, but because Princess Alice and Princess Helena were the protagonists, and I was only 15 years old at the time, so I didn't have any other ideas.

But as the power in her hands grows, her ambition slowly grows. Although she hides it well, she knows that her mother has always been watching her. Therefore, she is unwilling to accept that her fate is difficult to control. , Britain is no longer suitable for me to stay.

She couldn't help but think of what William IV said to her before leaving a few years ago: "We will meet again in the future."

There is a bitterness in my heart. Could it be that the relationship between goodbye is the relationship between an eldest brother and a younger sister?

Princess Louise quickly calmed down, "Since mother has decided, then I am willing to accept this bet."

Queen Victoria was happy, with a little bit of reluctance, but at this moment, she actually regretted it.

Louise has been with her in the past few years and has given her a lot of help. Even among his princesses, she has to admit that Louise has the strongest political sensitivity and the best talent. Perhaps Just like what her husband said before his death, Louis missed himself the most.

Perhaps, leaving the UK and going to the Netherlands or the Kingdom of Greece would be a good choice.

Thinking of this, Queen Victoria's heart moved. Perhaps, if William IV really defeated Bismarck, the marriage of Prince Louis and Prince Frederick would bring the relationship between the Netherlands and Britain closer, and use the Netherlands to balance Prussia, which would be good.

On March 2, 1868, Denmark and Sweden formed a military and economic alliance with the Netherlands. The three countries reached a mutual defense agreement. When one of the countries was attacked, the other two countries must help it face the invasion.

Needless to say, this other country must refer to the Kingdom of Prussia.

Could there be a more obvious hint than this?

King Karl XV of the Kingdom of Sweden announced that Sweden will send 5,000 army troops to Amsterdam for joint training with 3,000 troops from Denmark and more than 10,000 troops from the Netherlands. The military training will last for a quarter.

He said that before autumn comes, the armies of the three countries will rotate and replace the same number of troops for autumn joint military training.

Sweden and Denmark in Northern Europe have obviously deepened their alliance with the Netherlands, from a military alliance to the current political and economic alliance, which surprised the outside world.

Berlin said that this would definitely pose a threat to Prussia and Russia, but Austria-Hungary welcomed it and believed that this would be a historic moment.