A sombre line-up of Dutch royals gathered to see the body of Prince Bernhard, father of reigning Queen Beatrix, transferred from his home at Soestdijk Palace to the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Sunday.
Heading the mourning was Bernhard's grandson Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, who held little Princess Catharina-Amalia, the future queen, in his arms. At his side stood his weeping wife, Crown Princess Maxima; the couple were flanked by Willem-Alexander's brother Prince Constantijn with his wife Princess Laurentien, their cousin Princess Juliana, and other clearly affected members of the royal family.
Popular Prince Bernhard, who passed away on December 1 at the age of 93, is to lie at Noordeinde so that ministers of state, dignitaries and members of the public can pay their final respects before his funeral next Saturday, December 11. Already, flowers and other tributes, including bottles of his favourite champagne, have been left with affectionate messages outside Soesdijk Palace, which he shared with his late wife, the former Queen Juliana, for six decades.
An active, colourful and sporty personality, Bernhard met the shy young princess in 1935 and they were married two years later, in January 1937. The couple, who had four daughters, spent their first Christmas together in hospital after Bernhard broke his neck in a motor accident.
German-born Bernhard won widespread respect with his devotion to his adopted nation during the Second World War, and his activities to rebuild the country in the post-war years. His reputation was tarnished in 1976 when he was involved in the Lockheed bribery inquiry. The scandal forced the prince to resign from all public office, though his military rank was reinstated in 1991. Documents published since his death reveal that he admitted to receiving a "sweetener" of over $1 million from Lockheed in return for help with securing contracts for the company while his wife was queen.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
