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Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands

Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Bernhard of the Netherlands
Prince Bernhard in 1976
wearing his trademark carnation
Prince consort of the Netherlands
Tenure 6 September 1948 – 30 April 1980
Born (1911-06-29)29 June 1911
Jena, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Germany
Died 1 December 2004(2004-12-01) (aged 93)
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Burial 11 December 2004
Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, Netherlands
Spouse Juliana of the Netherlands (m. 1937; d. 2004)
Issue Beatrix of the Netherlands
Princess Irene of the Netherlands
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands
Princess Christina of the Netherlands
Alicia von Bielefeld
Alexia Grinda
Full name
Bernhard Leopold Frederik Everhard Julius Coert Karel Godfried Pieter
House Lippe
Father Prince Bernhard of Lippe
Mother Armgard von Cramm
Religion Church of Lippe (until 1937)
Dutch Reformed Church (1937–2004)
Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2004)
Occupation Military officer
Aviator
Conservationist
Nonprofit director
Signature
Full name
Bernhard Leopold Frederik Everhard Julius Coert Karel Godfried Pieter

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld (Prince Bernhard Leopold Frederik Everhard Julius Coert Karel Godfried Pieter of Lippe-Biesterfeld) (Born as: Bernhard Friedrich Eberhard Leopold Julius Kurt Carl Gottfried Peter Graf von Biesterfeld; 29 June 1911 – 1 December 2004), later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was the husband of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of her four children, including the former Queen of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix.

Although his private life was rather controversial, he was still generally regarded as a charming and popular figure by the majority of the Dutch for his performance as a combat pilot and his activities as a liaison officer and personal aide to the Queen during World War II and for his work during post-war reconstruction.

During World War II the German-born prince was part of the London-based Allied war planning councils and saw active service as a Wing Commander (RAF) flying both fighter and bomber planes into combat. He was a Dutch General and Supreme Commander of the Dutch Armed forces, involved in negotiating the terms of surrender of the German Army in the Netherlands.

For proven bravery, leadership and loyalty during his wartime efforts he was appointed a Commander of the Military William Order, the Netherlands' oldest and highest honour. After the War he was also made Honorary Air Marshal of the RAF by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1969, Bernhard was awarded the Grand Cross (Special Class) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Bernhard helped found the World Wildlife Fund (later renamed World Wide Fund for Nature), becoming its first President in 1961, and in 1970 establishing the WWF's financial endowment "The 1001: A Nature Trust". In 1954, he was a co-founder of the international Bilderberg Group, which has met annually since then to discuss corporate globalization and other issues concerning Europe and North America. He was forced to step down from both groups after being involved in the Lockheed Bribery Scandal.


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