when william frederick, prince of orange-nassau, the only surviving son of the last stadtholder, was proclaimed king of the netherlands as william i in 1815, he made huis ten bosch palace one of his official residences. it became a favourite location for many members of the royal family. in 1899 the palace was the site of several meetings of the first international peace conference at the hague. during world war i it became the primary residence of queen wilhelmina.