Beatrix of the Netherlands
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| Image:Queen Beatrix.PNG | |
| Reign | 30 April 1980 - Present |
| Predecessor | Juliana |
| Heir Apparent | Prince Willem-Alexander |
| Spouse | Claus von Amsberg |
| Issue | Prince Willem-Alexander Prince Johan-Friso Prince Constantijn |
| Father | Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands |
| Mother | Juliana of the Netherlands |
| Born | January 31, 1938 |
Beatrix of the Netherlands (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard van Oranje-Nassau) (born January 31, 1938), Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld, styled HM The Queen is Queen of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne in 1980.
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Early life
Beatrix is the daughter of the late Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and the late Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Her godparents are King Leopold III of Belgium, Grand Duke Adolphe of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and the Countess de Kotzebue.
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. The family lived at Stornoway. Beatrix attended Rockcliffe Park Public School, during their exile in Canada. They returned home in 1945.
Education
In Canada, Princess Beatrix 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 Baarnsch 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.
Political Involvement and Marriage
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Her appearance on the political scene was almost immediately marked with controversy. Her marriage to German diplomat Claus von Amsberg, who had served in the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht, and hence was associated by a part of the Dutch with German Nazism, caused a massive protest during her wedding day at Amsterdam on 10 March 1966. Protests included the memorable slogan "I want my bicycle back," a reference to the memory of occupying German soldiers confiscating Dutch bicycles. On a less peaceful note, a smoke bomb was thrown at the wedding carriage by a group of Provos causing a violent street battle with the police. As time went on, however, Claus became one of the most popular members of the Dutch monarchy and his 2002 death was widely mourned.
An even more violent riot occurred on 30 April 1980, during her inauguration (kings of the Netherlands are not crowned as such) as Queen Beatrix. Some people, including Anarchist squatters, used the occasion to protest against poor housing conditions in the Netherlands and against the monarchy in general; clashes with the police and security forces turned brutal and violent. Both events are reflected in contemporary Dutch literature: the 1966 affair in the classic “De Aanslag” by Harry Mulisch, and the riot of 1980 in the books of A.F.Th. van der Heijden.
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Queen of the Netherlands
On 30 April 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. She approaches her role as Queen with more formality than Queen Juliana, and many admire her professionalism. While the Dutch Monarchy remains extremely popular, in recent times the Dutch media have openly criticized the royal family. The Dutch media has also published many "tabloid" stories, similar to the stories that have plagued the House of Windsor for decades. This change in attitude have some Dutch subjects viewing the monarchy as an ongoing "soap opera," rather than an institution that plays an important role in Dutch society. As a result, 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.
As Queen, Beatrix wields more power than most of Europe’s reigning monarchs. In domestic matters, she has little political say; however, in international relations, the Queen has much more latitude. It was once reported that she threatened to dismiss a cabinet minister if he turned down her request to open a Dutch embassy in Jordan.
Image:Beatrixandclausdancing.jpg On 6 October 2002, Queen Beatrix's husband died after a long illness. A year and a half later, her mother died after a long battle with senile dementia, while her father succumbed to cancer in December 2004. These deaths garnered a massive outpouring of national grief.
Beatrix is rarely quoted directly in the press, since the government information service (Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst) makes it a condition of interviews that she may 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 Prince Willem-Alexander.
On 8 February 2005, Beatrix received a rare honorary doctorate from Leiden University. In her acceptance speech she reflected on the monarchy and her own 25 years as Queen. [1] The speech was broadcast live.[2]..
It is not known if Beatrix will follow the example of her mother and grandmother and abdicate. Those closest to her have stated that she has never seriously talked about abdication.
She has been a long-time member of the Club of Rome.
On 19 April and 30 April 2005, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her reign. She was interviewed on Dutch television, was offered a concert on Dam Square by the city of Amsterdam, and a celebration took place in The Hague, the country's seat of government.
Personal Wealth
According to a 2005 Forbes Web Site report, the Queen's personal wealth is estimated at $4.7 billion. If this estimate is indeed accurate it makes her one of the richest people in the world. It is also believed, however, that the queen's assets are tied up in stakes in Royal Dutch Petroleum (now 60% of Royal Dutch Shell), among other companies.
Children
The Queen has three children, all sons:
- Prince Willem-Alexander, The Prince of Orange (born 1967)
- Prince Johan-Friso (born 1968)
- Prince Constantijn (born 1969)
Titles and Prime Ministers
Image:Royal Standard of the Netherlands.pngImage:Nl-arms.gifQueen Beatrix's titles are: "Beatrix, by the Grace of God Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc. etc. etc."
The triple 'etc.' refers to the title Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld and the following titles formerly borne by the princes of Orange. These being dormant titles, they are retained in the masculine form.
- Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen
- Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Spiegelberg, Buren, Leerdam, and Culemborg
- Viscount of Antwerp (now in Belgium)
- Baron of Breda, Diez, Beilstein, the town of Grave and the lands of Cuijk, IJsselstein, Cranendonk, Eindhoven, Liesveld, Herstal, Warneton, Arlay and Nozeroy
- Hereditary Lord and Seigneur of Ameland
- Lord of Besançon (now in France), Borculo, Breedevoort, Bütgenbach, Clundert, Daasburg, Geertruidenberg, Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe, 't Loo, Lichtenvoorde, Montfoort, Naaldwijk, Niervaart, Polanen, Steenbergen, Sint-Maartensdijk, Sankt Vith, Soest, Ter Eem, Turnhout, Willemstad, and Zevenbergen.
The Queen signs official documents "Beatrix" and is addressed as "Your Majesty" (Dutch: "Uwe Majesteit"). Queen Beatrix' mother Queen Juliana frowned upon this title. She preferred to be adressed as " Mevrouw" Dutch for Mrs. Queen Beatrix surprised the Dutch people by re-introducing the Royal Style of Majesty when addressing her.
Queen Beatrix is Grand Master of the Military Order of William ( Militaire Willemsorde) and the other Dutch Orders of Merit. She is an Extra Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Dame of the Order of the Elephant (Kongle Danske Elefantenorden) and has received numerous other medals and decorations. Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba is named after Queen Beatrix.
Prime Ministers of the Netherlands during The Queen's reign
- Dries van Agt (1977-1982)
- Ruud Lubbers (1982-1994)
- Wim Kok (1994-2002)
- Jan Peter Balkenende (2002-present)
Recent Events
Image:Modtpd8meq9a05.jpeg On Queensday 2005, Beatrix made a visit to the seaside town of Scheveningen, and the formal celebration of the 25th anniversary of her reign took place in The Hague. Photographs taken during the Queen's visits with the citizenry have been widely disseminated.
Upcoming Events
On Queensday 2006, Beatrix will visit the province Flevoland, visiting the cities Zeewolde and Almere.
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- 21-01-2006 till 31-12-2006: Een Koninklijk Fotoalbum / Nationaal Museum Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn
- Description: A photo gallery about the role of the dutch royal family in Dutch Society.
External links
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