Gays Confront Queen (Press, 7 July 1988)
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Summary: Gays Confront Queen (Press, 7 July 1988)
During a Royal visit to the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip met with both supporters and protesters. Their visit on 7 July 1988 was intended to commemorate 300 years of British-Dutch friendship, which dates back to when Prince William of Orange became King of England. The couple's itinerary included stops in bustling Amsterdam and at a historic royal palace near Apeldoorn. At various locations, the Royal couple received warm greetings from small crowds, including individuals who brought their corgi dogs in tribute. However, a large group of angry homosexuals also assembled to protest against a new British law that prohibits local authorities from promoting homosexuality. Demonstrators in Amsterdam’s Dam Square displayed a banner that read, "Lillibet (the queen’s nickname), save our queens" and made noise with pots, pans, and whistles, attempting to disrupt the band that was welcoming the Royals. Despite the protest and the inclement weather, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip proceeded through the square where a British-style garden featuring flowerbeds in the colours of both the Dutch and British flags had been constructed overnight in their honour. The couple was later joined by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus for a visit to an exhibition titled “The World of William and Mary” at the Nieuwe Kerk, and they interacted with members of the British community, which numbers around 50,000 in the Netherlands. The Queen and Prince Philip were scheduled to return to the UK after visiting the Oosterbeek war cemetery, where they would pay their respects to 1,626 soldiers who lost their lives attempting to capture a bridge over the Rhine in Arnhem during the Second World War in 1944.
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