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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
NamePrince Bernhard
TitlePrince of the Netherlands, Prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld
CaptionPrince Bernhard in 1971
SpouseQueen Juliana
IssueQueen Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Princess Christina
HouseLippe-Biesterfeld
FatherPrince Bernhard of Lippe
MotherBaroness Armgard von Sierstorpff-Cramm
Birth date29 June 1911
Birth placeJena, German Empire
Death date01 December 2004
Death placeUtrecht, Netherlands
Burial placeNieuwe Kerk (Delft)

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld was a German-born nobleman who became the consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and a prominent, if often controversial, figure in Dutch public life for over six decades. His dynamic career spanned military service, extensive international business connections, and significant philanthropic leadership, most notably founding the World Wildlife Fund. Bernhard's life was marked by both celebrated contributions to Dutch society and serious scandals that tested the monarchy's reputation.

Early life and family

Born in Jena within the German Empire, Bernhard Leopold Friedrich Eberhard Julius Kurt Karl Gottfried Peter was the elder son of Prince Bernhard of Lippe and Baroness Armgard von Sierstorpff-Cramm. The House of Lippe was a mediatized princely family, and he grew up on the family estate, Lopshorn, in the Free State of Prussia. He studied law at the University of Lausanne, the University of Berlin, and later worked in the Paris office of the German chemical giant IG Farben. His early life was shaped by the aristocratic circles of Weimar Germany and the rising influence of the Nazi Party.

Military career

Before his marriage, Bernhard served briefly in the SS cavalry regiment *Reiterstandarte* and held a commission in the Wehrmacht, a background that later became a source of scrutiny. During World War II, after the German invasion of the Netherlands, he escaped with the Dutch royal family to London. He was appointed a captain in the Royal Netherlands Navy and a wing commander in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, actively serving as a liaison officer between the Dutch government-in-exile and the British Armed Forces. He flew combat missions with the Royal Air Force and played a key role in organizing the Dutch Interior Forces.

Marriage and role as Prince Consort

His engagement to then-Princess Juliana of the Netherlands was announced in 1936, causing some controversy in the Netherlands due to his German nationality. They married in The Hague in January 1937, after which he became a Dutch citizen and was granted the title Prince of the Netherlands. As Prince Consort following Juliana's accession in 1948, he assumed an active, modernizing role, undertaking numerous state visits and promoting Dutch industry and commerce abroad through organizations like the Dutch Red Cross and the Dutch Olympic Committee. He was a popular, charismatic figure who helped revitalize the image of the Dutch royal family in the post-war era.

World War II and post-war activities

Beyond his military liaison work, Prince Bernhard was deeply involved in the Dutch resistance effort from London. After the Liberation of the Netherlands, he was appointed Inspector-General of the Armed Forces. In the post-war period, he became a leading advocate for European unity and cooperation, serving as the first Chairman of the Bilderberg Group international conference and holding the presidency of the World Wildlife Fund International from its founding in 1961. He also served as Chairman of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and was instrumental in founding the Order of the Golden Ark.

Business interests and controversies

Bernhard maintained extensive networks in global business and industry, which fueled both his philanthropic work and significant scandals. The most damaging was the Lockheed bribery scandal in the 1970s, where a U.S. Senate inquiry revealed he had accepted over $1 million in payments from the Lockheed Corporation to influence aircraft purchases. A subsequent Dutch inquiry, the Van Agt Commission, found his actions "extremely improper," leading him to resign his military commissions and many public roles. His connections to companies like Volkswagen and Fokker were also frequently examined for potential conflicts of interest.

Later life and death

Despite the scandals, he remained a publicly visible figure, especially in conservation circles. After Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980 in favor of their daughter Queen Beatrix, his official duties diminished. In his final years, he battled cancer and Parkinson's disease. Prince Bernhard died at the age of 93 in the University Medical Center Utrecht, surrounded by his family. He was interred with full military honors in the royal crypt of the Nieuwe Kerk (Delft) in Delft.

Category:Princes of Lippe-Biesterfeld Category:Dutch princes consort Category:World Wildlife Fund