Queen of Netherlands Beatrix, horoscope for birth date 31 January 1938, born in Soestdijk, with Astrodatabank biography - Astro-Databank photo: Paul Blank, license cc-by-2.5 Biography Dutch royalty, the first of four daughters born to Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. Husky, athletic and intelligent, she earned a law degree from the University of Leiden. Her grandmother, Wilhelmina, abdicated the throne to her mom in 1948. Always an independent thinker, she refused a political marriage and shocked the people when she married German junior diplomat Claus von Amsberg on 3/10/1966. She bore the first male child to the House of Orange in 116 years on 4/27/1967; this birth being the first of three sons. Her mother died on March 20, 2004, and her father died eight months later on December 1, 2004.

On 28 January 2013 Queen Beatrix announced that she would abdicate her throne in favour of her son Willem-Alexander on 30 April 2013. chart Placidus Equal_H. Source Notes LMR stated: Paul Mahler Dam quotes records (9:47 AM Leonen time). Sabian Symbols No.77 gave 9:47 AM GMT. But their source was most likely the official announcement of the Dutch government in the Staatscourant. The Dutch paper NRC of 9 Dec 2003 quotes the special edition of the Dutch Staatscourant of 31 January 1938: "Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses Juliana der Nederlanden,is hedenmorgen door Gods goedheid bevallen van eene dochter. Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses Juliana heeft heden, den 31sten januari 1938, des voormiddags te 9 uur 47 minuten het leven geschonken aan eene flinke dochter.

De toestand van moeder en kind is op het oogenblik zeer bevredigend". The translation of "den 31sten januari 1938, des voormiddags te 9 uur 47 minuten" is indeed 31 January 1938 9h47 AM. Categories Prince Claus of the Netherlands (Diplomat) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Prince Claus of the Netherlands Prince Claus of the Netherlands Prince Consort of the Netherlands Male Born Sep 6, 1926 Claus George Willem Otto Frederik Geert van Amsberg, later Prince Claus of the Netherlands; nÃ© Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg was the prince consort of the current Queen regnant of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix from 1980 until his death in 2002.… Read More related links Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Prince Claus of the Netherlands.

CHILDHOOD 1926 Birth Claus was born Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg, on his family's estate, Schloss DÃ¶tzingen, near Hitzacker, Germany on 6 September 1926. … Read More His parents were Claus Felix von Amsberg and Baroness GÃ¶sta von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen. Read Less 1928 1 Year Old His father, a member of the untitled German nobility, operated a large farm in Tanganyika (formerly German East Africa) from 1928 until World War II. TEENAGE Show Less From 1938 Claus and his six sisters grew up on their maternal grandparents' manor in Lower Saxony; he attended the Friderico-Francisceum-Gymnasium in Bad Doberan from 1933 to 1936 and a boarding school in Tanganyika from 1936 to 1938. Claus was a member of such Nazi youth organisations as Deutsches Jungvolk and the Hitler Youth (membership in the latter was mandatory for all fit members of his generation).

From 1938 until 1942, he attended the Baltenschule Misdroy. 1944 17 Years Old In 1944, he was conscripted into the German Wehrmacht, becoming a soldier in the German 90th Panzergrenadier Division in Italy in March 1945, but taken as a prisoner of war by the American forces at Meran before taking part in any fighting. … Read More After his repatriation, he finished school in LÃ¼neburg and studied law in Hamburg. He then joined the German diplomatic corps and worked in Santo Domingo and Ivory Coast. In the 1960s, he was transferred to Bonn. Read Less THIRTIES 1962 35 Years Old Claus met Princess Beatrix for the first time on New Year's Eve 1962 in Bad Driburg at a dinner hosted by the count von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff who was a distant relative of both of them.

They met again at the wedding-eve party of Princess Tatjana of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse, in the summer of 1964. … Read More With memories of German oppression still very strong 20 years after the war, sections of the Dutch population were unhappy that Beatrix's fiancÃ© was a German and former member of the Hitler Youth. Nonetheless, Juliana gave the engagement her blessing after giving serious thought to canceling it. Read Less 1965 38 Years Old The engagement was approved by the States-Generalâa necessary step for Beatrix to remain heiress to the throneâin 1965. He was granted Dutch citizenship later that year and changed the spellings of his names to Dutch. The pair were married on 10 March 1966. … Read More Their wedding day saw violent protests, most notably by the anarchist-artist group Provo.

They included such memorable slogans as "Claus, 'raus!" (Claus, get out!) and "Mijn fiets terug" (Give me back my bike), a reference to the memory of occupying German soldiers confiscating Dutch bicycles. A smoke bomb was thrown at the wedding carriage by a group of Provos. For a time, it was thought that Beatrix would be the last monarch of the Netherlands.<br /><br /> However, over time, Claus became accepted by the public, so much so that during the last part of his life he was generally considered the most popular member of the Royal Family. This change in Dutch opinion was brought about by Claus's strong motivation to contribute to public causes (especially Third World development, on which he was considered an expert), his sincere modesty and his candor (within but sometimes on the edge of royal protocol). Read Less LATE ADULTHOOD 1998 71 Years Old One example of his attitude toward protocol was the "Declaration of the Tie".

In 1998, after presenting the annual Prince Claus Awards to three African fashion designers, Claus told "workers of all nations to unite and cast away the new shackles they have voluntarily cast upon themselves", meaning the necktie, that "snake around my neck," and encouraged the audience to "venture into open-collar paradise". … Read More He then removed his tie and threw it on the floor. Read Less 2001 74 Years Old In 2001, when on Dutch television he announced the marriage of his son Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, and MÃ¡xima Zorreguieta, an Argentine woman of Spanish and Italian descent, Prince Claus referred to himself as more a citizen of the world than anything else. … Read More See also List of honours of the Dutch Royal Family by country <br /><br /> Prince Claus was also appointed Honorary Fellow of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in 1988. Prince Claus was held in very high esteem in the international development cooperation community, partly because of his considerable insight and understanding of the problems involved, and partly because of his exceptional gift for expressing the hopes and anxieties felt by all.

Read Less 2002 76 Years Old Claus suffered various health problems, such as depression, cancer and Parkinson's disease. He died in Amsterdam on 6 October 2002 after a long illness, aged 76. … Read More He died less than 4 months after the birth of his first grandchild.<br /><br /> He was interred in the Royal Family's tomb in Delft on 15 October. It was the first full state funeral since Queen Wilhelmina's in 1962. Read Less Original Authors of this text are noted on . Orange succession: Queen Beatrix to Prince Willem-Alexander - CNN.com Orange succession: Queen Beatrix to Prince Willem-Alexander By Updated 7:26 AM ET, Tue January 29, 2013 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED Queen Beatrix to give up Dutch throne 01:17 Story highlights Queen Beatrix will end 33 years on the Dutch throne on April 30 She will be succeeded by Prince Willem-Alexander.

He has earned a history degree and served in the Dutch Royal Navy His daughter Catharina-Amalia will be first in line when he becomes king Queen Beatrix spent 33 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her son, the Prince of Orange, Prince Willem-Alexander. She ascended to the throne when Queen Juliana abdicated on her 71st birthday, on April 30, 1980. Beatrix announced Monday that she will step aside on April 30 . Beatrix was born January 31, 1938, and when World War II reached Holland the family fled to London. Juliana, Beatrix and her sister Irene then moved to Ottawa, Canada. Beatrix married German diplomat Claus von Amsberg on March 10, 1966, in Amsterdam. They have three sons, Willem-Alexander, born in 1967, Friso, born in 1968, and Constantijn, born in 1969.

Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Newly wed Beatrix and Prince Claus in Amsterdam on March 10, 1966. Prince Claus died aged 76 on October 6, 2002 at a hospital in Amsterdam. Hide Caption Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Prince Claus holds his son Willem-Alexander in 1968. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix is pictured in 1979 at Drakensteyn Castle, the year before she became queen. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix, Friso and Mabel pose at the Palace Huis ten Bosch with the couple's new baby, countess Luana, on April 24, 2005.

Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix walks with Prince Johan Friso's wife Princess Mabel as they arrive on February 24, 2012, at the University Hospital in Innsbruck, to visit Prince Johan Friso, who was seriously injured in an avalanche while skiing. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander (right) talks to soldiers during a visit to Gilze Rijen airbase on November 13, 2012. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander and Maxima pose with their daughters as the Dutch royal family celebrates Christmas 2012 in Villa la Angostura, Argentina. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Princesses Alexia, Catharina-Amalia and Ariane pose for Christmas celebrations in 2012.

Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander, Maxima, Beatrix, Alexia, Amalia and Ariane appear at the annual winter photocall on February 18, 2013 in Lech, Austria. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Queen Beatrix attends the 50th anniversary celebrations of the European School, Bergen on March 12, 2013. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander, Beatrix and Maxima arrive for the 125th anniversary of the Concertgebouw concert hall and orchestra in Amsterdam on April 10, 2013. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Orange cows are placed on a traffic island in Wassenaar, the hometown of Willem-Alexander and Maxima, on April 17.

Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – A crown is hung in the center of Amsterdam on April 23, 2013 ahead of Beatrix's abdication. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – An employee removes a portrait of Beatrix in a Rotterdam courtroom on April 26, ahead of her abdication. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – An aerial view shows Drakensteyn Castle and its 20-hectare (49 acre) grounds, where Beatrix will live after her abdication. Beatrix bought the castle in 1959 and moved in four years later, continuing to live there after marrying her husband Prince Claus in 1966.

Hide Caption Wedding of Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg | Unofficial Royalty Wedding of Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg by Emily Sources and Acknowledgments Beatrix’s Family Beatrix (far left) as a child with her mother and sisters Irene and Margriet during their Canadian exile Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands, on January 31, 1938. She was the first of four daughters of Princess Juliana, the heir to the throne of the Netherlands, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Her second and third names are in honor of both of her grandmothers. When asked about the significance of his daughter’s first name, Prince Bernhard stated that he and his wife had simply liked it. At the time of her birth, Beatrix’s grandmother Wilhelmina had been Queen of the Netherlands for nearly 50 years. Beatrix’s birth was welcomed by the Dutch people as the House of Orange was on the brink of extinction comprising of only Juliana and Wilhelmina.

Beatrix’s younger sisters Irene, Margriet, and Christina followed in 1939, 1943, and 1947, respectively. Beatrix spent her early life at Soestdijk with her family. World War II broke out in 1939; the German occupation of the Netherlands followed shortly after. Wilhelmina, Juliana, Bernhard, Beatrix, and infant Irene escaped to London for safety following the invasion. As London was frequently bombed at the time and in danger of possible German occupation, Juliana’s position as heir to the throne and the vulnerability of the children necessitated their move to a safer location. Juliana, Beatrix, and Irene were moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1940. The family lived in Stornoway House, a home owned by a prominent Ottawa family which later became a property of the Canadian government. Margriet was born in Ottawa during the family’s exile. Beatrix and Irene attended Rockcliffe Park Public School and lived as peacefully as possible in difficult circumstances. Beatrix, her mother, and sisters returned to the Netherlands in 1945.

A gift of several thousand tulip bulbs was sent from Juliana to Canada in appreciation for the country’s wartime hospitality, a tradition that has continued to this day. Beatrix continued her education in Bilthoven (a village near Baarn) as the first Dutch royal to attend school with other children. Free from the tight security and formality of other European courts, Beatrix rode her bicycle to school from Soestdijk. Remembered by her classmates as jovial and approachable with a touch of mischief, young Beatrix was once given a lash across her hands at school after being caught placing a firecracker underneath the desk of the school janitor. After her grandmother’s abdication and mother accession in 1948, Beatrix became the heiress presumptive of the Dutch throne. Beatrix then studied law and sociology at Leiden University, graduating in 1961. She had a romance of some seriousness during that time with a fellow Dutch student, but allegedly broke off the union at Juliana’s insistence. Beatrix also became an avid sailor and greatly enjoyed piloting The Green Dragon, a yacht given to her by the Dutch people on her eighteenth birthday.

Beatrix also became a great fan of the arts, dabbling in sculpting and frequently attended theatrical productions and ballet in Amsterdam. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood Beatrix accompanied her mother (and later went on her own) touring the country she would one day rule. After her university graduation, Beatrix spent two years touring the Middle East, the United States, and various Dutch territories around the world. Claus’ Family Claus at age 12. Photo courtesy of Vivian Kramer. Claus Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg was born to Claus Felix von Amsberg and Baroness Gösta von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen at Haus Dotzingen (his uncle’s estate), near Hitzacker, Germany on September 6, 1926. The only son in the family, Claus had an older sister, Sigrid, and five younger sisters – Rixa, Margit, Barbara, Theda, and Christina. He spent part of his childhood in Tanganyika (now Rwanda), where his father operated a coffee plantation. At the age of 12, Claus returned to Germany and proceeded with his education at Baltenschule in Pomerania.

He continued with his studies until he was drafted into the Germany Army in 1942. After joining the army, Claus served with the 90th Panzer Division, fighting in Italy during World War II. Claus was captured by Allied forces in May 1945. At the time of his capture, Allied forces determined Claus had no Nazi sympathies despite his being a member of Hitler youth groups. During his time in a prisoner of war camps in Italy and Britain, Claus served as a driver and an interpreter. Following his release from Allied captivity, Claus began his studies of political science and law at the University of Hamburg. In 1953, while Claus was a student, his father passed away. Following his graduation in 1956, Claus practiced law briefly in Hamburg before entering the West German foreign service. He held positions in the Dominican Republic and Côte d’Ivoire before returning to Bonn. During his time in the foreign service, Claus became an expert on the economic development of third world countries. Through his education and foreign service career, Claus became fluent in German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swahili, and later Dutch.

At the time he met Beatrix, Claus was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on fostering relationships with several African countries. The Courtship The photo of Beatrix and Claus at Drakensteyn that forced their relationship to be made public. Beatrix and Claus initially met at the wedding of Tatiana of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse in the summer of 1964. Tatiana’s brother Richard – also a friend of Claus – had long been mentioned as a possible suitor for Beatrix. Claus and Beatrix met again in January 1965 at a ski resort in Gstaad, Switzerland, as guests of Prince Moritz of Hesse. In an amusing twist, Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg accompanied Claus on his trip, fueling the fire that Beatrix and Richard were romantically involved. However, an astute (and baffled) reporter following the story noticed that Richard was often seen skiing alone. Richard is believed to have accompanied Claus as a “decoy” to allow the couple to get to know one another away from intrusions.

Within a week of this second meeting, Prince Bernhard began making private inquiries about Claus’ history and character. The release of photograph of a Claus and Beatrix together at Juliana’s birthday in April 1965 piqued public interest in the couple. However, when asked of his relationship with the princess, Claus confirmed that he was acquainted with Beatrix, but stated that the idea of marriage was “inconceivable” and that he had no plans to marry anyone at that point. A second photo of the couple walking hand in hand at Drakensteyn was released in May, appearing in British, then Dutch newspapers. Although Beatrix and Claus had hoped to keep their romance a secret for a bit longer, they released that speculation about the nature of their relationship would only increase following the release of the photos. Engagement Beatrix and Claus during their engagement Queen Juliana announced the engagement to the Dutch public via television on June 28 from the palace at Soestdijk. Beatrix said of the romance, “With us duty goes before sentimental considerations.” Juliana noted that the family understood that acceptance of the engagement may be difficult for Dutch citizens due to the war.

Claus and Beatrix made additional radio and television appearance later in the day answering questions about the engagement and its political implications. The announcement of the engagement was a surprise to most of the Dutch citizens who were unaware the two were so serious about one another. The couple noted several times that they had expected the engagement would draw criticism, but were confident in that their decision was a good one. When told of the engagement, Dutch Premier M. L. T. Cals reportedly uttered, “A German…what a pity.” However, after meeting with Claus, Cals had a good opinion of him. Cals then spoke in support of the couple, and expressed hope that their happiness with one another would win over the Dutch public. Beatrix and Claus met with members of the Dutch Cabinet and Parliament the day after the engagement was announced. Premier Cals confirmed that a bill would be introduced for parliamentary approval or disapproval of the marriage. This was required by the Dutch constitution in order for Beatrix to retain her place in the line of succession.

Public Reaction A leaflet denouncing Claus as persona non grata in the Netherlands With memories of the horrible experiences of the World War II occupation still fresh in the minds of many Dutch citizens, there was significant public protest over Beatrix’s choice of a husband. As Claus was a former soldier and nominal member of the Hitler Youth (a requirement at the time for attendance at Claus’ school), the association with the Nazi party was particularly painful. Orange swastikas were painted on walls around Amsterdam as an ugly association between the House of Orange and Germany’s Nazi past. Still other Dutch citizens believed that Claus was simply an unimpressive candidate as a consort for their future queen. In addition to his WWII service, Dutch were concerned that Claus was too old for Beatrix, had little personal fortune, and was not of royal blood. The more republican dissenters began to raise the question of whether the monarchy was really beneficial to the country at all. At least three separate protests were made to the Dutch government by members of academia, former Resistance leaders, and the clergy urging for rejection of the marriage bill. In October 1965, several Dutch newspapers ran advertisements urging readers to sign the petition against approval of the marriage.

The petition was signed by several prominent Dutch academics, and members of the artistic community. A handful of Dutch Parliament members indicated their plan to vote against the bill. Over 65,000 signatures were on the petition when it was submitted to the Dutch Parliament requesting denial of a bill approving the marriage between Beatrix and Claus due to his military service and association with the Nazi party. Approval of the bill was required by the Dutch Constitution for Beatrix to remain in the line of succession. The Family’s Response Claus, Beatrix, Juliana, and Bernhard discussing the engagement on television Claus understood the Dutch objections to his membership in Nazi youth organizations as well as his service with the German Army during World War II. He explained that while he did not take an active stance against the Nazi Party, he also did not maintain active involvement in any organization with the group. In hindsight, Claus remarked, the Nazi rule was incredibly harmful for the world. Similar regimes, he continued, should be avoided at all costs.

Claus also noted that he looked favorably to Prince Bernhard’s life as a consort to a queen regnant, indicating that he wished to assist Beatrix and the Dutch in much the same way as his prospective father-in-law had done for Queen Juliana. Claus’s military record was carefully examined by Dutch officials in order to identify any objectionable actions on his part. However, the investigation did not discover Claus’ participation in any activities deemed unacceptable for his future role as Beatrix’s consort. Beatrix noted that if her parents or the Dutch government had demanded she give up Claus, she would have done so. For her part, Juliana said that she gave her full support to Beatrix and her fiancé, and that she was glad the couple followed their hearts despite any expected backlash from the public. Juliana also remarked that she had no intentions of abdicating the throne to Beatrix any time soon. Prince Bernhard, a German who had also initially been distrusted by the Dutch public, praised his future son-in-law, noting that in time the Dutch citizens would understand that Claus was an excellent person who would be an asset to his new country.

Prince Bernhard further noted that he “could not think of a better husband for [his] daughter.” In addition to his extensive knowledge of various languages, Claus began learning Dutch while dating Beatrix. He also began touring the Netherlands and meeting with the people, alone or accompanied by his fiancée. At the time of the wedding, he was reported to speak the language “…fairly well, and with a good accent.” Claus’ positive interactions with the Dutch people eventually made him a very popular member of the royal family. Wedding Preparations Beatrix and Claus greeting supporters during their engagement The bill for Beatrix’s permission to marry Claus passed the lower house of the Dutch Parliament in November 1965, with 132 yeas and 9 nays. The house also approved the extension of Dutch citizenship for Claus on the day of the wedding. The bill passed the upper house the following month. The wedding date was set for March 10, 1966, at the Westerkerk, a large church located not far from the building that hid Dutch Jewish teenager Anne Frank during World War II. The choice of Westerkerk was unique in that it had never before hosted a royal wedding.

Nieuwe Kerk, a church near the palace and a more obvious choice, was undergoing significant renovations at the time that would not be completed before the wedding. Beatrix herself reportedly oversaw many of the details of the wedding and related celebrations. Plans were made to televise the religious ceremony in the Netherlands, a first for Dutch royal weddings. Beatrix requested that a red light indicator be placed in Westerkerk as a sign of when the television cameras would be on her. On February 17, 1966, Claus and Beatrix registered their upcoming marriage in Baarn. The couple received a gift of silver salt cellars made in Amsterdam upon registering their marriage. The gift was presented to Beatrix and Claus by Burgermaster F.J. van Beeck Calkoen on behalf of the city of The Hague. Schoolchildren in Amsterdam were released early for the day in celebration of the event. Most of the children flocked to the town hall to wave at the couple and the accompanying television cameras. After the registration, Beatrix and Claus toured The Hague via horse drawn carriage. Later that day, a gala celebrating the engagement in was held in The Hague.

The couple attended the gala with their families and about 700 dignitaries. The wedding banns were published on the same weekend in The Hague’s Hall of Knights. In celebration of the event, small bags of candy attached to parachutes were released from the ceiling as part of a Dutch tradition. Claus himself took part in the fun diving for the falling candy. The couple then attended a special performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Dutch government agreed to contribute 1.5 million guilders ($420,000 American) for wedding expenses. The city of Amsterdam provided approximately $220,000 American, while the rest of the cost was covered by Beatrix’s family and private donations. The Dutch government did not release postage stamps commemorating the event (common for royal weddings), claiming that sufficient time had not been allowed to create the stamps. However, the Netherlands Antilles did release a single stamp in celebration of the event. The stamp featured a pair of lovebirds standing on a pair of wedding rings encircling the letters B and C.

Celebrations in Amsterdam Claus, Beatrix, and Beatrix’s family at a ball celebrating the engagement The 300 official guests of the royal family were treated to an Amsterdam canal cruise on the afternoon of March 9. Guests also enjoyed trips to Rijksmuseum and tours of the Netherlands diamond cutting and polishing factories. Beatrix and Claus attended a concert held by children from each of the eleven provinces of the Netherlands during this time. A ball in honor of the couple was held at the Royal Palace that evening. The event was attended by over 400 guests, included an uninvited reporter who snuck in intended to get clandestine shots of the couple. It was Beatrix herself who noticed the journalist, who was immediately escorted out of the party. The Wedding Ceremonies Beatrix, Claus, and families on their wedding day. Photo from the Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection. As required by Dutch law, Beatrix and Claus were married at a civil ceremony prior to the religious service. The couple traveled first to the Amsterdam Town Hall in the 1898 golden coach used for the coronation of Beatrix’s grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina.

The Westerkerk bells rang and canons fired as the two made their way to the hall. Orange, blue, and red flowers representing the Dutch flag decorated the interior of the Amsterdam Town Hall. The brief ceremony, conducted by Mayor Dr. Gijsbert Van Hall, concluded with Beatrix, Claus, and their witnesses signing the marriage certificate in front of a group of personal guests. The coach carrying Beatrix and Claus continued from the town hall to the religious wedding at the renovated Westerkerk. The procession was about a mile in length, shorter than most other royal weddings. This was due in part to the caution over possible unrest and concern for the safety of the couple, their guests, and spectators. Queen Juliana, Prince Bernhard, and Mrs. von Amsberg traveled to the wedding in a glass coach, while eleven cars carried various royal guests. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 spectators lined the streets to watch the processional. The crowd was unusually light for a royal wedding. People were kept home possibly due to the controversy surrounding Claus, the cool and rainy weather, and television broadcast.

Claus and Beatrix entered the church to the French hymn of “A toi la glorie,” set to music by Handel. The signed marriage certificate from the civil wedding was presented to the clergy at the start of the religious service. The ceremony was conducted by Reverend Johannes Hendrik Sillevis Smitt, who urged the couple not to take the outcry over their wedding to heart. Reverend Hendrik Jan Kater conducted the closing prayer, calling for God to look after everyone, and for greater understanding between the Dutch Christian and Jewish populations. Beatrix and Claus whispered and smiled to one another several times during the 75 minute religious service. The word “obey” was not used during the civil or the religious ceremony, possibly due to Beatrix’s prominent status or to the changing views on a woman’s role within marriage. When Beatrix had difficulty putting on Claus’ ring, he pushed it on the rest of the way himself and the two shared a chuckle. There was also some interest in the wedding within Canada as Beatrix had lived in the country as a young child. Canada was also rumored to be a possible honeymoon destination for the couple. Rallies were held in some of the larger Canadian cities to celebrate the event.

After the religious wedding, the couple entered the 1898 coronation coach and headed back to the royal palace, waving to spectators along the way. Wedding Day Protests Smoke bombs thrown in protest of the wedding Given the mixed public opinions a threat of violence on the wedding day, several additional security and safety precautions were established. Physicians in Amsterdam were requested to stand by in case protests escalated into violence. In addition, the blood types of all of the wedding guests were recorded in assurance that supplies would be stocked accordingly. An estimated seven smoke bombs were thrown by a group of 1,000 young protesters at the wedding. One of the bombs went off just before the golden coach passed, causing a horse to jerk. However, the horse recovered its gait quickly. The smoke was not said to be hazardous and dissipated almost immediately. Another bomb was set off just as the couple left the church. An estimated 8,000 soldiers and police officers were brought in to control crowds and prevent wedding-related violence. These included plain clothes officers who mingled in the crowd looking for any signs of unrest.

Prior to the wedding, the Dutch police requested use of the Anne Frank House as a temporary police post due to its close proximity to Westerkerk. The Anne Frank House refused. Police had to remove a small barricade of bicycles across the road included in the route, a symbolic move made by the protestors at the German seizure of Dutch bicycles during World War II. There were also reports of protesters unsuccessfully attempting to rush at the royal procession. Nineteen arrests were also made in connection with the protests. No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but one of the protesters received non life-threatening injuries in a skirmish with the police. Wedding Attire Beatrix and Claus on their wedding day Beatrix had made a name for herself in the years before her wedding as one who generally ignored trendy French fashion houses. She made no exception to this in planning the design and assembly of her wedding dress, choosing largely unknown Dutch designer Caroline Berge-Farwick of Maison Linette. Berge-Farwick was known to be a favorite of Queen Juliana’s, and was known for designing single pieces of clothing specific to her individual clients rather than offering seasonal collections.

Beatrix wore a square necked gown of white silk and satin duchesse with a 16 foot train falling from the waist. The dress featured three-quarter length sleeves, a fitted waist, and a bell-shaped skirt with white velvet trim. Hints of the scrollwork from the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara were incorporated into the embroidery on the dress, which Beatrix herself assisted in the design. All of the cloth used was made especially for the dress in St. Etienne, France. Beatrix’s mid-length white tulle veil was attached to the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara, brought to the Dutch royal collection via Sophie of Württemberg (first wife of Willem III of the Netherlands). The tiara may have come with Sophie in its complete form, or as loose gems that were later used in its assembly. The tiara remains one of the grandest of the Dutch collection and features numerous large pearls set among diamond-studded spikes. It was also worn by Beatrix’s grandmother Wilhelmina at her enthronement. On her left side, Beatrix wore a pearl and diamond brooch that was also created for Sophie.

She also carried a bouquet of white eucharis and lilies of the valley, both common flowers used for spring weddings. The floral creations for the wedding were designed by Dutch designer Abel Verheijen, who later became famous for his art all over Europe. The wedding marked the first of many occasions in which Mr. Verheijen would provide his floral designs for Dutch royal events, including Beatrix’s 1980 inauguration. The six bridesmaids wore long satin dresses with straight skirts and matching lace jackets with half-length sleeves. The dresses were light blue, mint green, or lavender, with two bridesmaids wearing each color. Each bridesmaid also donned feathered headpieces and elbow-length white gloves during the service. The two flower girls wore short sleeved white satin dresses with circlets of white flowers in their hair. The pages wore black trousers, ruffled white shirts, and wrist-length white gloves. Claus, wisely forgoing his military uniform, wore a morning coat with striped trousers, a grey vest, and grey trousers. The Wedding Attendants Beatrix and Claus with their bridesmaids on their wedding day For her six bridesmaids, Beatrix chose a mix of relatives, fellow royals, and close friends.

Four bridesmaids carried and arranged Beatrix’s train, while the two remaining bridesmaids took charge of the pages and flower girls. The six bridesmaids were: Christina of the Netherlands, Beatrix’s youngest sister. Christina of Sweden, a granddaughter of Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden. Christina von Amsberg, Claus’ sister. Lady Elizabeth Anson, a stepdaughter of Prince George Valdemar of Denmark and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Joanna Roell, a friend of Beatrix and daughter of a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Juliana. Eugenie Loudon, a Dutch noble and friend of Beatrix. The page boys were Joachim Jencquel and Markus von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff. The flower girls were Daphne Stewart Clark and Carolijn Alting von Geusau. The couple also had several prominent witnesses to the signing of the marriage certificate at the civil ceremony. These witnesses were: Prince Ernst Aschwin of Lippe-Biesterfeld, the bride’s uncle. Willem Drees, former Dutch premier and leader of the Dutch Resistance movement during WWII.

Princess Alexandra of Kent Julius von dem Bassche Haddenhausen Wedding Guests Beatrix and Claus with some of their royal guests Approximately 1600 guests attended the religious ceremony at Westerkerk, with a small portion being present at the civil service as well. About 20 of the 45-member Amsterdam City Council did not attend the wedding out of protest for Beatrix marrying a German. In addition, two Amsterdam rabbis invited to the wedding refused to attend due to the treatment of Dutch Jews by Nazi occupiers. In a somewhat unusual circumstance, few crowned heads of Europe attended the wedding celebrations. Of those who did, the majority were younger monarchs. Additionally, several of the missing monarchs were represented by their children or other younger members of their families. The following royal and family guests attended the religious wedding: Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands Mrs.

Gosta von Amsberg Princess Marina, Dowager Duchess of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent (representing Elizabeth II) Crown Prince Harald of Norway Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg Prince Charles of Luxembourg King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes Princes Carlos Hugo and Princess Irene of Bourbon-Parma Princess Christina of the Netherlands Princess Benedikte of Denmark Infante Juan Carlos and Infanta Sofia of Spain Princess Alexandra of Kent and Sir Angus Ogilvy Prince Albert and Princess Paola of Liege Infanta Pilar of Spain Princess Margaretha of Sweden and Mr. John Ambler Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and fiancé Pieter van Vollenhoven Prince Aschwin and Princess Simone of Lippe-Biesterfeld Princess Irene of Greece Prince Richard of Sayn- Wittgenstein-Berleburg Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Bull, the Canadian ambassador to the Netherlands and his wife The presence of Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma was initially doubted due to the controversy over his marriage with Beatrix’s sister Irene several years before.

Additionally, it was rumored that Juan Carlos and Sophia of Spain would not attend either. The word had been that Juan Carlos was angry over the Dutch response to the Bourbon-Parma/Netherlands wedding, although other reports indicated that Juan Carlos had fallen ill with the flu just before the start of the celebrations. In any event, all of the Spanish royals in question did attend with no further reports of trouble. Pamela’s Story Pamela at the wedding with her chaperone, Gerda Mus Pamela Sue Smith, a 12-year-old girl from Patchogue, New York, chose Queen Juliana when assigned to prepare a school report on a famous person. Pamela wrote to Juliana as a requirement for the project and received a standard reply from a Dutch lady-in-waiting. Pamela then sent additional letters, which also received replies. An overexcited Pamela then started a rumor at her school that she would be attending the upcoming Dutch royal wedding. The rumor gained strength among her classmates and their families, and within a day Pamela had received congratulations from all over town. The local chamber of commerce even proposed sending with Pamela a bottle of locally-made perfume to give to Beatrix as a gift.

When the mayor of Patchogue contacted Washington to inquire about a passport for the “wedding guest,” a horrified Pamela confessed that she had not actually been invited to the wedding. By this time, Onno Leebaert, director of the Netherlands Tourist Association, caught wind of the story and decided to make it a reality for Pamela. Mr. Leebaert was able to provide a complimentary airline ticket and secure an official invitation to the wedding for a very excited girl. He praised Pamela for her honesty in coming clean about the original rumor. On March 8, Pamela left for Amsterdam in the company of Gerda Mus, an employee of the tourist association. Upon her return, Pamela lamented her height, noting that while she was able to see the processional quite well, it was difficult to watch the actual ceremony with so many adults in front of her. Pamela said that she liked the windmills and canals in Amsterdam, and even learned a few Dutch words on her trip. She was especially surprised to see her own picture in the office window of a Dutch news association. Pamela returned home to Patchogue, tired and happy, with several souvenirs, including a Dutch lace cap.

After the Wedding Beatrix and Claus waving on the balcony of the palace after the wedding The completion of the wedding ceremonies made Claus a Prince of the Netherlands, excluding any rights of succession to the throne. A personal allowance of $80,000 was also awarded to him. Castle Drakensteyn was undergoing remodeling at the time to accommodate the new couple. After arriving at the palace, Beatrix and Claus stepped out onto the balcony to wave to a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. The balcony was decorated with bunches of white tulips in celebration of the occasion. Following the wedding, Beatrix released a statement thanking those who had sent gifts and well-wishes. She also acknowledged those who were opposed to the union with the following words: “That not all can rejoice in this marriage is a fact we recognize and understand. [We know] that many of you had to bear fathomless sorrow in the past and suffered irreparable losses.

It is this background that deepens our feeling of gratitude.” In a happy epilogue to the story of Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg acting as a decoy during the Beatrix’s and Claus’ courtship, at the wedding Richard met Princess Benedikte of Denmark for the first time. After spending time dancing and chatting during the wedding festivities, the couple began dating. Their engagement was announced in 1967, and the couple married the following year. Honeymoon Claus and Beatrix on their honeymoon Early projected honeymoon destinations were Tanzania (the area where Claus spent part of his childhood), Canada, or the Dutch West Indies. Prior to the wedding, an anonymous royal source claimed that while the couple was not planning to vacation in the United States, they would be heading “westward” from the Netherlands. The couple honeymooned in Mexico, dividing their time between Acapulco and the island of Cozumel. While in Cozumel, Beatrix and Claus stayed in a villa owned by former Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos. While visiting Acapulco, the couple stayed at the estate of Jorge Mendes, a Mexican financier.

Both Lopez Mateos and Mendes were friends of the Dutch royal family. In a statement later released by the US State Department, Beatrix and Claus were first flown first to the United States via a KC-135 military jet. The jet was said to be returning to the US from Germany when it made a stop in Frankfurt, West Germany, allowing the couple to board. The statement also noted that Beatrix and Claus were only able to fly on the military jet as space was already available. The request for transport had been initially made by Queen Juliana through diplomatic channels. After landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, the couple then boarded a second military plane to Laredo, Texas, and onto Mexico. Due to guidelines at the time, passengers were required to pay $1 more per person for flight in a military plane if commercial flights were available. After Dutch airlines KLM totaled the cost of service for two passengers on the Frankfurt/District of Columbia/Laredo route, it was discovered that the couple had been overcharged by $7.88 for the service. There were no reports of the family demanding reimbursement.

Sources and Acknowledgments I would like to thank Vivian Kramer for permitting the use of her photo of Claus as a child, and Marlene Koenig for allowing the use of her photo of Beatrix, Claus, and families on their wedding day. Additionally, the photo of Pamela Sue Smith and Gerda Mus as the wedding appears courtesy of Koninklijke Bibliotheek/The Memory of the Netherlands. The original photograph can be found at the following address: “Amsterdam Prepares for Royal Wedding.” The Glasgow Herald: 25 Feb 1966. Print. Associated Press. “A Royal Wedding, Bitter Memories.” The Cedar Rapids Gazette: 6 Mar 1966. Print. ¤tResult=0¤tPage=0 Associated Press. “Beatrix Wedding Plan Scored.” The New York Times: 9 Nov 1965. Print. Associated Press. “Check Made on Beatrix’s Fiance.” The New York Times: 25 Jun 1965. Print. Associated Press. “Dutch Princess’ Wedding Approved.” Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph: 11 Nov 1965. Web. Associated Press.

“Royal Candy Shower.” The Cedar Rapids Gazette: 24 Feb 1966. Print. ¤tResult=2¤tPage=0 Associated Press. “Royalty Faces Critical Period.” The Eugene Register-Herald [Eugene, Oregon]: 9 Mar 1966. Print. Associated Press. “Royal Wedding Has Its Problems.” The Tuscaloosa News: 16 Feb 1966. Web. Associated Press. “Tired But Happy New York Girl, 12, Returns From Dutch Royal Wedding.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Of America. Retrieved from Ancestry.com. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Associated Press. “US Girl Named Smith To See Princess Wed.” The Milwaukee Sentinel: 9 Mar 1966. Print. Associated Press. “Beatrix popular with Dutch.” The Leader-Post [Regina, Saskatchewan]: 2 Feb 1980. Print.

“Beatrix and Fiance Register for Marriage March 10.” The New York Times: 18 Feb 1966. Print. “Beatrix and German Fiance Presented to Dutch Leaders.” The New York Times: 30 June 1965. Print. “Beatrix’s Choice.” The New York Times: 11 Mar 1966. Print. “Beatrix is Betrothed to a German.” The New York Times: 29 Jun 1965. Print. Bowen, Ruth. “’Give Them Your Smiles.’” The Edmonton Journal [Edmonton, Alberta]: 10 Mar 1966. Print. Canada Post. “Smoke Bombs Mar Dutch Royal Wedding.” The Edmonton Journal: 10 Mar 1966. Web. “Costly Affair.” The Reading Eagle: 24 Feb 1966. Web. Cowan, Edward. Special to The New York Times. “Princess Beatrix to Be Wed to German Today.” The New York Times: 10 Mar 1966. Print. Cowan, Edward. Special to The New York Times.

“Beatrix’s Wedding To German Marred By Dutch Protests.” The New York Times: 11 Mar 1966. Print. Embree, George. “Holland Prepares for Royal Wedding.” The Des Moines Register: Mar 1966. Print. ¤tResult=1¤tPage=0 “HRH Prince Claus of the Netherlands.” The Telegraph [London, United Kingdom]: 8 Oct 2002. Print. Lidman, David. “Dog’s Day in April.” The New York Times: 6 Mar 1966. Web. “L.I. Girl’s Rumor Wins A Royal Dutch Treat.” The New York Times: 9 Mar 1966. Print. Reuters. “Beatrix’s Wedding March 10.” The New York Times: 9 Dec 1965. Print. Reuters. “Dutch Parliament Is urged To Bar Beatrix Wedding. The New York Times: 24 Sep 1965. Web. Reuters. “Wedding Donation for Beatrix.” The New York Times: 24 Feb 1966. Print. Reuters.

“White satin gown.” The Leader-Post [Regina, Saskatchewan]: 10 Mar 1966. Web. “Royal Wedding Flowers.” Web log post. Lamberdebie’s Blog. WordPress, 5 Apr. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2012. “Top Dutch Floral Designer To Be In Wellington.” New Zealand Independent News Media: 4 Sep 2002. Web. United Press International. “Dutch Authorities Ready for Princess’ Wedding.” Tucson Daily Citizen: 9 Mar 1966. Print. Retrieved from Ancestry.com. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. United Press International. “$80,000 Annual Allowance.” The New York Times: 11 Mar 1966. Print. United Press International. “Pamela’s Fib Really Does Come True.” Tucson Daily Citizen: 9 Mar 1966. Print. Retrieved from Ancestry.com. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) [database on-line].

Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. “U.S. Flies Beatrix But Price Is Wrong.” The New York Times: 16 Mar 1966. Print. “Wedding Plans Of a Princess Ruffle the Dutch.” The New York Times: 27 Jun 1965. Web. Beatrix of the Netherlands Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard of Orange-Nassau (born January 31 , 1938 ) is the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , having acceded to the throne in 1980 . Beatrix is the daughter of Queen Juliana and her husband, Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld . When Beatrix was a young girl, the Dutch royal family fled the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II , moving to Great Britain in May 1940 and then to Ottawa , Canada . They returned home in 1945 . Queen Beatrix In Canada, Princess Beatrix had attended nursery and primary school.

On her return to the Netherlands, she continued her primary education at The Workshop (De Werkplaats), Kees Boeke's progressive school in Bilthoven . In April 1950 , Princess Beatrix entered the Incrementum, part of Baarns Lyceum, where she passed her school-leaving examinations in arts subjects and classics in 1956 . On January 31 , 1956 , Princess Beatrix celebrated her 18th birthday. From that date, under the Constitution of the Netherlands, she was entitled to assume the royal prerogative. At that time, her mother installed her in the Council of State. Beatrix began her university studies the same year, at Leiden University . In her first years at university, she attended lectures in sociology , jurisprudence , economics , parliamentary history and constitutional law. In the course of her studies she also attended lectures on the cultures of Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles , the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, international affairs, international law, history and European law. While at university, the Princess visited various European and international organisations in Geneva , Strasbourg , Paris , and Brussels .

She was also an active member of the Leiden Women Students' Association. In the summer of 1959 , she passed her preliminary examination in law, and she obtained her law degree in July 1961 . On March 10 , 1966 , she married the diplomat Claus von Amsberg . Initially, there was quite some opposition to the marriage. With fresh memories of the Second World War , a part of the Dutch people didn't appreciate a German prince. As time went on, however Claus became one of the most popular members of the Dutch monarchy and his 2002 death was widely mourned. On April 30 , 1980 , Beatrix became Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. She exercises her function with more formality than Queen Juliana . She has a lot of supporters because of her professionalism, but during the 1990s criticism increased. She has been a long-time member of the Club of Rome .

Beatrix has three sons: 12 things you never knew about the Dutch royal family | World news | The Guardian Netherlands 12 things you never knew about the Dutch royal family King Willem-Alexander used to be known as the Lager Prince; Queen Beatrix celebrates her birthday with a giant car boot sale and the Dutch crown is made of fish scales Tuesday 30 April 2013 12.30 EDT First published on Tuesday 30 April 2013 12.30 EDT Close 1 The new king sewed his own wetsuit Willem-Alexander spent two years living in rainy Wales in the mid-1980s when he was a student at an international sixth-form college. His mum, Queen Beatrix, came to Atlantic College near Bridgend to drop her son off. Dutch TV crews were invited along to record the moment and were occasionally spotted afterwards lurking in bushes. The college, known as AC, is home to students from more than 90 countries.

(There was a relatively big Dutch contingent; its slogan went: "If you're not Dutch, you're not much.") AC has a strong idealistic ethos, with an emphasis on international understanding; most students are on scholarships. The campus boasts a Harry Potter-style medieval castle, a jousting field, and sweeping views of the Bristol Channel. Students study the International Baccalaureate. The teenage prince joined AC's student-crewed RNLI lifeboat service, which was sometimes called out for rescues; you had to sew your own wetsuit. He was also a pretty decent squash player. A laidback figure, Willem had a reputation as a party-lover and a bit of a Romeo. He dated several female students from Latin America and nobody was very surprised when he later married an Argentinian woman. LH 2 The Dutch royal family costs more than the British one For a supposedly low-key, Scandinavian-style bicycling monarchy, the Dutch royal family come pretty expensive. According to last year's annual study by Herman Matthijs, professor of administrative science and public finances at Ghent University, the House of Oranje-Nassau costs the country's taxpayers £31m a year.

That's more than any other royal family in western Europe – including, for the first time, the House of Windsor, whose direct costs were reduced by 16% last year to around £29.7m. The overall bill for the Dutch monarchy is four times the cost of the Spanish royal family – and proportionately even dearer, because the Netherlands' population of 16.7 million is only a third the size of Spain's and a quarter the size of Britain's. The expenditure is divided between allowances paid to the monarch and the heir apparent (in 2010, Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima received €7.1m), expenses incurred in the performance of official duties (€27m), and other expenses related to the management of the royal house (€5.7m). The Dutch royal family is also very rich. In 2009, Forbes magazine estimated Queen Beatrix's wealth at $200m, noting reports that the Queen and her family had been hit by declines in real estate and equity investments but may also have lost up to $100m in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme – although the royal house has consistently denied that allegation.

JH Queen Beatrix (centre), with her husband Prince Claus and her sons the now King Willem-Alexander (right), Prince Constantijn (second right) and Prince Johan Friso (currently in a coma following a skiing accident). Photograph: Reginald Davis/Rex Features 3 Willem has a reputation King Willem-Alexander was a bit of a lad, earning himself the nickname Prins Pils (Lager Prince) for his student beer-drinking, and once drove his car into a ditch. JH 4 The monarch's birthday is celebrated with a car boot sale From next year, Koninginnedag, or Queen's Day, will become Koningsdag, or King's Day. It's an endearing if slightly crazed Dutch national holiday celebrated every year since 1948 on 30 April (or thereabouts). It marks the birthday of Beatrix's mother, Juliana, and Beatrix chose to celebrate her birthday on the same date. Koninginnedag is, strikingly, the only day in the year when the Dutch are allowed to sell whatever they like, wherever they like, which essentially means the country becomes a giant fleamarket.

That one of world history's greatest mercantile nations should choose to celebrate its monarch's birthday by staging a kind of national car boot sale is, somehow, pleasing. JH 5 They don't wear crowns In fact they don't even have a coronation. Willem-Alexander became king the moment his mother signed her abdication papers , and even at the formal inauguration ceremony, the crown, orb and sceptre were only displayed on a table. The crown itself, by the way, was made out of gold-plated silver in 1840, and uses fake pearls and jewels made from fish scales, glass and coloured foil. LB Koninginnedag was bigger than usual this year. Photograph: Demotix/Corbis 6 Part of their kingdom is in the Caribbean Holland is only a part of the Netherlands, of course – and not even the majority of it. (Calling the country "Holland" is like saying "England" instead of "Britain".) But the Netherlands itself is only a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , which also includes the two and half Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

The 280,000 or so people who live on them now have a new king too. LB 7 They have a habit of marrying undesirables The former Queen Beatrix caused outrage in 1966 when she chose as her husband Klaus-Georg von Amsberg, a member of the German nobility and former conscript of the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht. The ceremony itself saw angry chanting and smoke bombs being thrown, in protest at one of the country's former occupiers joining its establishment. Then in 2002 Willem-Alexander married Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti , the Argentinian daughter of a man who had been one of dictator Videla's ministers during the dark years of the military junta. Sensibly, he didn't attend the wedding. Both partners subsequently proved to be good choices, however, and grew to be adored by the Dutch public. LB 8 The new king is 889th in line to the British throne Give or take. These things are difficult to count with certainty. But then the royal family in the Netherlands are related to just about every other monarch in Europe.

Through his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Jan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange, King Willem-Alexander is a cousin of Margrethe II of Denmark, Albert II of the Belgians, the Grand-Duke of Luxembourg, Harald V of Norway, Juan-Carlos of Spain, Albert II of Monaco, and our own Queen Elizabeth II. LB 9 Their children go to state schools When they speak, they do sound identifiably posh to other Dutch speakers, but in their choices the country's royals have been firm egalitarians. King Willem-Alexander attended state schools, and so do his daughters Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. His wife Queen Maxima is even registered there as a "lice mother", with responsibility for inspecting children's hair. LB The Dutch crown is made of gold-plated silver, with 'gems' made of glass and fish scales.

Photograph: Lex Van Lieshout/Pool/EPA 10 They have normal jobs Before the skiing accident that has left him in a coma , Willem-Alexander's younger brother Friso (who renounced his royal title in order to marry his wife Mabel, whom parliament might not have approved) was a banker and then the chief financial officer of Urenco, a nuclear fuel company. The youngest brother Constantijn works for the Rand Corporation, a policy think tank. LB 11 They are a bit political As in Britain, the Dutch royals are expected to express no political opinions and to sign whatever parliament puts in front of them, and generally they do. When Queen Beatrix visited mosques in Oman and Abu Dhabi last year, however, she was criticised for wearing a headscarf by Geert Wilders, the leader of a popular anti-Islamic party. In response, she told reporters that the row was "nonsense", giving a fairly good indication of where her sympathies lie. LB 12 They are determined to be groovy King Willem-Alexander does not wish to be called Willem IV, he says, because he doesn't want to be labelled with a number.

It has been suggested that his real motive is to avoid being called "vier" (four) because it rhymes with "bier" (beer), which would make the temptation to call him "Willem Bier", following his previous nickname "Prince Pils", almost irrestible. His father, Prince Klaus, was so committed to informality that he became famous for his condemnation of tie-wearing. He first made his feelings known at an awards ceremony for African fashion designers, when he announced his contempt for this "snake around my neck" – a statement that has since become known as "The Declaration of the Tie". LB • This article was amended on 2 May 2013 to clarify that the Dutch Sint Maarten is only half of an island. The other half is the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin.

The Dutch operate the world's biggest flea market for a day as the monarchy changes hands on the queen's 75th birthday Published: 30 Apr 2013 • Queen Beatrix hands over to son • Orange-clad Dutch celebrate on Queen's Day Investiture of King Willem-Alexander takes place after well-loved queen of the Netherlands signs abdication document in Amsterdam, ending her 33-year reign Published: 30 Apr 2013 Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix Biography Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix Biography Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard of Orange-Nassau (born January 31, 1938) is the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne in 1980. Beatrix is the daughter of the late Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and her surviving husband, Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld. When Beatrix was a young girl, the Dutch royal family fled the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II, moving to Britain in May 1940 and then to Ottawa, Canada. They returned home in 1945.

In Canada, Princess Beatrix had attended nursery and primary school. On her return to the Netherlands, she continued her primary education at The Workshop (De Werkplaats), Kees Boeke's progressive school in Bilthoven. In April 1950, Princess Beatrix entered the Incrementum, part of Baarns Lyceum, where she passed her school-leaving examinations in arts subjects and classics in 1956. On January 31, 1956, Princess Beatrix celebrated her 18th birthday. From that date, under the Constitution of the Netherlands, she was entitled to assume the royal prerogative. At that time, her mother installed her in the Council of State. Beatrix began her university studies the same year, at Leiden University. In her first years at university, she attended lectures in sociology, jurisprudence, economics, parliamentary history and constitutional law. In the course of her studies she also attended lectures on the cultures of Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, international affairs, international law, history and European law. While at university, the Princess visited various European and international organisations in Geneva, Strasbourg, Paris, and Brussels.

She was also an active member of the Leiden Women Students' Association. In the summer of 1959, she passed her preliminary examination in law, and she obtained her law degree in July 1961. On March 10, 1966, she married the diplomat Claus von Amsberg. Initially, there was quite some opposition to the marriage. With fresh memories of the Second World War, a part of the Dutch people didn't appreciate a German prince. As time went on, however Claus became one of the most popular members of the Dutch monarchy and his 2002 death was widely mourned. On April 30, 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. She exercises her function with more formality than Queen Juliana. She has a lot of supporters because of her professionalism, but during the 1990s criticism increased. Beatrix's current challenge is to keep the Dutch monarchy modern, efficient and most of all in tune with the wishes of the Dutch people.

It is expected that like her two predecessors, Beatrix will not remain on the throne for life, and instead respectfully abdicate when she is confident her son is ready to assume the crown. She has been a long-time member of the Club of Rome. Beatrix has three children, all sons: Prince Willem-Alexander (born 1967) Prince Johan-Friso (born 1968) Prince Constantijn (born 1969) On October 6, 2002, her husband Prince Claus died after a long illness. A year and a half later, her mother also passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Both deaths garnered a massive outpouring of national grief, which no doubt provided comfort to Beatrix. Beatrix is rarely quoted directly in the press, since the government information service (Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst) makes it a condition of interviews that she not be quoted. This rule was introduced shortly after her inauguration, reportedly to protect her from political complications that may arise from "off-the-cuff" remarks. It does not apply to her son Willem-Alexander.

Hereditary titles of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands Her Majesty Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard by the Grace of God Queen of the Netherlands Princess of Orange-Nassau Marchioness of Veere and Flushing Countess of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Spiegelberg, Buren, Leerdam, and Culemborg Viscountess of Antwerp Baroness of Breda, Diest, Beilstein, the city Grave and the land of Cuyk, IJsselstein, Cranendonk, Eindhoven, Liesveld, Herstal, Warneton, Arlay and Nozeroy Hereditary and Suzerain Dame of Ameland Dame of Borculo, Breedevoort, Lichtenvoorde, Het Loo, Geertruidenberg, Clundert, Zevenbergen, Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe, Naaldwijk, Polanen, Sint-Maartensdijk, Soest and Baarn Prime Ministers of the Netherlands during Queen Beatrix's regin Dries van Agt (1977-1982) Queen Beatrix.

Biography, news, photos and videos Horoscope : Capricorn When Beatrix, then first in line to the Dutch throne, became engaged to German diplomat Claus von Amsburg in 1965, there were angry demonstrations on the grounds that her fiancé had been educated in a Nazi environment and had links with the Hitler Youth. By strange coincidence a similar controversy arose in the next generation when her son and heir, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, decided to marry Argentine economist Maxima Zorreguieta in March 2001. Her father had served as a minister with the Argentinian military dictatorship – not something the Dutch, with their strong record for human rights, were happy to countenance. The Queen, however, dealt with the matter intelligently and firmly, consulting the Dutch prime minister, Wim Kok, before an official announcement was made. Born on January 31, 1938, at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard was just two years old when her family fled to Britain (and later to Canada) following the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

Her sisters Irene, Margriet and Christina were born one, four, and nine years after her. After school, "Trix", as she is known, went to Leiden University, where she concentrated on subjects which would stand her in good stead for her future role, emerging with a degree in politics in July 1961. And then came Claus, and later, marriage. The House of Orange ignored the furore surrounding the betrothal and Claus, who received the title of Prince of the Netherlands on their wedding day, was later cleared of having deeper links with the Third Reich. The couple went on to have three sons – giving Willem-Alexander two brothers named Johan Friso and Constantijn. But Prince Claus seemed to have some difficulty adapting to life as the monarch's consort. "How could I ever have been so naïve as to marry the Crown Princess of the Netherlands?", he is reported to have commented to a friend. And he was treated several times for severe depression in a psychiatric clinic. He passed away in 2002, at the age of 76.

In 1980, Beatrix's mother, Queen Juliana, made the surprise announcement that, after 31 years on the throne, she was abdicating in favour of her eldest daughter. "As one gets older one realises sooner or later that one's powers decrease and that one cannot fulfil one's duties as before," she told the nation in a televised address. Five months later, Beatrix was crowned amidst some of the worst street violence ever witnessed in the country, as squatters clashed with police in the streets, angry over the sums being spent on the coronation when the capital was suffering from a desperate housing shortage. In the following years, the outgoing and gregarious sovereign, who is believed to be the second richest woman in the world, won over her people, gaining consistently high approval ratings. Their sympathy and support was one of the few consolations when Johan Friso was involved in a serious skiing accident in 2012. The queen's son was buried under an avalanche in Lech, Austria and was left in a permanent coma. Friso was transferred to a specialist hospital in London where he has been cared for ever since.

One year after the accident, just ahead of her 75th birthday, Beatrix appeared on TV to tell the nation that it was time to "place the responsibility for the country in the hands of a new generation". She abdicated four months later, becoming HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Question: Who married the woman who was to become Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, on 10 March 1966?
Answer: Prince Claus