The death of the Markgraf von Baden on 29 December 2022 reminded me of one of my most special royal meetings over the years.
When trying to put some order in the huge amount of photos I have taken in the past 20 years or so, I came across this pre-digital photo. It is probably the most surprising royal photo I have ever taken. I think it was Sunday 10 August 2003, one day after I had enjoyed the wedding of Duchess Fleur von Württemberg and Count Moritz von Goëss in Altshausen. I decided to visit Salem Palace & Monastery. After having arrived at the railway station there was no bus in sight. Despite of the heat I decided to walk, a lovely and quiet walk through the fields.
I was finally nearing the palace when I looked aside and saw a man looking over the garden wall. We greeted each other, I looked again, and saw it was Max, the Margrave von Baden. I had seen him at the wedding in Altshausen already, not that he would have noticed me. So we talked a bit and I asked him if I could take his picture. He didn’t mind and this is the result. Then I continued walking to visit the palace and he started gardening again.
After having returned home I actually sent him the picture with a short letter for Christmas, thanking him for posing. And I received a card with a short personal text back.
That’s a nice picture and a nice Story!