Oh, I found out why the plinth said that Queen Beatrix had been invited to do the unveiling: the Seven Dials area was developed during the reign of William and Mary, and Queen Beatrix was in the UK in 1989 to attend the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of their accession to the throne. William of Orange-Nassau was a Dutch nobleman and a nephew of James II, and had married James' daughter Mary, so after James was deposed they were offered and accepted the joint monarchy of the UK.
It wasn't a happy marriage, unfortunately; William seemed to be far more interested in his boyfriends (two of whom he elevated to the English Peerage) than in his wife, and when he did have a relationship with a woman it was with his wife's Lady of the Bedchamber.
I wonder how many fervent Irish Unionists are aware that their beloved "King Billy" was a philandering queer :)
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timeasmymeasure
The Dutch connexion...
Date: 2006-04-04 01:17 pm (UTC)It wasn't a happy marriage, unfortunately; William seemed to be far more interested in his boyfriends (two of whom he elevated to the English Peerage) than in his wife, and when he did have a relationship with a woman it was with his wife's Lady of the Bedchamber.
I wonder how many fervent Irish Unionists are aware that their beloved "King Billy" was a philandering queer :)