(German version)

 

"Salvador Dalí - The Magician Of Colour"
The speech by H.R.H. Prince Felipe
Nörvenich Castle

 

 

German President Richard von Weizsäcker and
H.R.H. Prince Felipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H.R.H. Prince Felipe and German Foreign Minister
Hans-Dietrich Genscher in front of the Portrait Salvador Dalí

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grandparents of Prince Felipe,
the Greek King Paul and
Queen Friederike and the first German President
Prof. Theodor Heuss at Brühl Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H.R.H. Prince Felipe and German Foreign Minister
Hans-Dietrich Genscher at a window - Nörvenich Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portrait Salvador Dalí

 

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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.