Prince
Felipe in Germany
Meeting with the German President - Opening of the Dali Exhibition
The first official visit of the Spanish successor to the throne, Prince
Felipe in Germany on Thursday, July 11, 1991 had two main reasons:
meeting with the German President Richard von Weizsäcker and
the opening of the Dali Exhibition at the Nörvenich Castle.
The German President Richard von Weizsaecker said: "We are glad
that you visited us. Spain is a country that has a special importance
in the history and culture of Europe."
The exhibition "Salvador Dalí - The Royal Collection",
under the patronage of the Prince and the German Foreign Minister
Hans-Dietrich Genscher, was organized by the Museum Europäische
Kunst.
During his greeting in the Hall of Knights of the Castle, the Foreign
Minister Genscher praised the visit of the Crown Prince.
"It is a great joy for us, that at this time you have come to
Germany for your first official visit, on the invitation of the German
government. For Spain, new tasks are appearing in a Europe, which
is uniting. You, Prince Felipe, can give important impulses for the
dialog of the young generation of our countries. We hope that politics
and art will soon bring you back again to Germany. Then, please come
again also to the Nörvenich Castle, in order to see in person
the progress on the European cultural work at this place."
H.R.H.
Prince Felipe and John G. Bodenstein
H.R.H. Prince
Felipe was welcomed at the Nörvenich Castle by John G. Bodenstein,
Lord of Nörvenich Castle, with a blessing:
"We greet the Spanish Crown Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias,
with the motto of our House: Servare at imperare! - Serve and rule.
Royal Highness, today you have brought with you the sun of Spain!
For the royal family and for you personally, we wish a long, successful
engagement for a Europe in peace and freedom. May God protect you."
At the welcoming ceremony at the Castle, the patriarch of the family,
Joe F. Bodenstein recalled his meeting with the grandparents of the
Prince, the Greek King Paul and Queen Friederike, a granddaughter
of the last German Kaiser. The King of the Hellenes was by tradition
the patron of the Alexander Order for Art and Science.
At his visit at the Nörvenich Castle, a meeting place of the
apolitical Order, Prince Felipe was awarded the Honorary Membership.
H.R.H. Prince Felipe was awarded the Honorary Membership
of the
Alexander Order for Art and Science -
German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher,
Prince Felipe and Joe F. Bodenstein
On this occasion, Joe F. Bodenstein said:
"Royal Highness, in memory of the merits of the Greek Royal House
for the preserving of a world cultural heritage, the Honorary Membership
of the Alexander Order for Art and Science is awarded to you. This
spiritual society, modernized in 1990, is dedicated to the peaceful
cooperation of peoples in a democratic society. The members in the
fields of art, science and politics are encouraged to promote these
goals in their areas of work with their deeds, in order to defend
tolerance and achieve freedom of the arts.
This honour to you, Royal Highness, is no doubt also meant in the
sense of our much too early deceased member Salvador Dali. The Spanish
master has occupied himself in his drawings not only with Alexander
the Great, but also with themes of antiquity and mythology. May you
personally, as well as Spain become the true protectors of Dali's
inheritance.
Please accept now, from the hand of the German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich
Genscher, the Royal Medal, created by Salvador Dali, as a memento
of this historical day."
German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and
H.R.H. Prince Felipe
with the Royal Medal created by Salvador Dalí
The
visit at the Nörvenich Castle, and the opening of the Dali exhibition,
which lasted several hours, were combined with a magnificent reception
for about 800 invited guests from politics, diplomacy, business, citizens
and friends of Dali.
An
autograph from H.R.H. Prince Felipe - Nörvenich Castle
As a gift from the guest, the Collection of European Art received
"The Coronation", a graphic work of Dali.
The work reminds the accession to the throne by the Spanish King Juan
Carlos. The etching was created after an original ink drawing of Dali.
The Prince Felipe was accompanied to the Castle also by Spanish musicians
and dancers, who provided the traditional Spanish folk music. On this
wonderful summer day, the guests were served wine and specialities
from Spain till late at night.