Princess Beatrix Turns 76

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands turned 76 years old on January 31st.

The former Queen Regnant of the Dutch Kingdom was born at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands in 1938. Her parents were the future Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and her German husband, Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. The Princess was baptised Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard at the Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk in the Hague in May 1938 .Among her godparents were King Leopold III of the Belgians and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.

In 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands and the Dutch Royal Family were evacuated to the United Kingdom and later to Canada, where they remained until August 1945, when the family returned home.

In March 1966, Beatrix married the German-born diplomat Claus von Amsberg and the couple had three sons: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands born in 1967, Prince Johan Friso in 1968 and Prince Constantijn born in 1969. The family resided at Drakesteijn Castle near the town of Baarn.

In April 1980, her mother Queen Juliana abdicated and Beatrix succeeded her as Queen. Queen Beatrix was invested as Queen in a lavish ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus proved to be a very popular royal couple with the Dutch public. In October 2002, Prince Claus died following a long illness, this was followed by the deaths of her mother Juliana and father Bernhard in 2004.

In January 2013, Queen Beatrix, having reigned for 33 years, announced on Dutch television that she would abdicate the throne on April 30th in favour of her son Willem-Alexander. The abdication ceremony took place at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and her son was later invested as monarch at Nieuwe Kerk that afternoon. Sadly her second son, Prince Friso, passed away in August of last year having been in a coma since February 2012 following an avalanche in Lech, Austria.

Following her abdication as Queen, Beatrix is official styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Birthday, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.

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