3-038-938 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The New Empire of Germany: the President of the North German Federal Assembly reading the address to the King of Prussia at Versailles, 1871. View of...'the important historical transaction which took place on the 18th December [1870], in the Prefecture of Versailles, where the King of Prussia received a deputation from the Reichstag, or Parliament, of the North German Confederation, inviting him to assume the title of Emperor of Germany...King William...was in full uniform, and covered with decorations...The Crown Prince of Prussia was to the right of the King, whilst the Princes of Weimar, Mecklenburg, Wurtemberg, and Hohenzollern were a little further back. To the left of the King was the reigning Duke of Coburg, with Count Bismarck close behind him...Baron Rothschild of Frankfort was [also] among them, and Herr Simson, who may be called the kingmaker of Germany...Herr Simson stepped into the centre of the circle, and, after making a short introductory speech, read the address of the Parliament in a loud voice. King William listened gravely, and then, taking a folded paper from the hand of an aide-de-camp, read his reply in tones that trembled with emotion. It was a very impressive scene'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.