Beatrix of the Netherlands

Beatrix Queen of the Netherlands Queen Beatrix in May 2008 Reign 30 April 1980 – present (44 years) Full name Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard Titles Queen of the Netherlands Princess of Orange-Nassau Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld Born 31 January 1938 (1938-01-31) Soestdijk Palace, Baarn, Netherlands Predecessor Queen Juliana Heir apparent Prince Willem-Alexander Consort Prince Claus Royal House House of Orange-Nassau Royal anthem Het Wilhelmus Father Prince Bernhard Mother Queen Juliana Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard; born January 31 1938) has been the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since April 30 1980, when her mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated in her favor, as her mother, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands had abdicated in Juliana's favor. Wilhelmina's mother, Queen Emma, had acted as regent during her childhood so Beatrix followed in the footsteps of four remarkable women. The Netherlands had female heads of state or an acting head of state from the end of the nineteenth century through until the start of the twenty-first, beginning with Emma and ending with Beatrix. Beatrix, however, unlike her two predecessors has given birth to a male heir, Willem-Alexander. Beatrix has continued to give the Netherlands moral leadership, building on the legacy of her mother and grandmother. The three women steered the nation through loss of its empire, the third largest in the world at the end of the nineteenth century, through the Great Depression, World War I and World War II and helped to shape the direction that Holland has taken since the end of the last world war as it helped pioneer the European Union to secure peace and has contributed generously to the peace-making missions of the United Nations and to the development of the Third World. Beatrix, who has a degree in law, champions the ideals of democracy and freedom around the world, receiving the gratitude of Nelson Mandela for her nation's role in isolating the white minority regime. "Solidarity," Beatrix says, "is the universally accepted basis of co-existence." She has stressed personal responsibility, respect for others including other faiths and cultures so that, through dialogue, balanced solutions can be found to solve the problems that confront the world. Privilege of birth and of wealth has not blinkered the Queens of the Netherlands from concern for the welfare of other people, of other nations or for the peace and stability of the world. Early life Princess Beatrix was born as Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld on 31 January 1938 at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands. She is the eldest daughter of Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Beatrix' five godparents are King Leopold III of Belgium, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Princess Elisabeth zu Erbach-Schönberg, Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, and Countess Allene de Kotzebue. When Beatrix was one year old, in 1939, her first sister Princess Irene was born. When World War II broke out in the Netherlands in May 1940, the Dutch Royal Family fled to London, United Kingdom. One month later, Beatrix went to Ottawa, Canada with her mother Juliana and her sister Irene, while her father Bernhard and Queen Wilhelmina remained in London organizing the government in exile and broadcasting weekly to her people in Holland. The family lived at the Stornoway residence. Her second sister Princess Margriet was born in 1943. During their exile in Canada, Beatrix attended nursery and the primary school, Rockcliffe Park Public School. The family returned to the Netherlands on August 2 1945. Beatrix went to the progressive primary school De Werkplaats in Bilthoven. Her third sister Princess Christina was born in 1947. On 6 September 1948, her mother Juliana succeeded her grandmother Wilhelmina as Queen of the Netherlands, and Beatrix became the heir presumptive to the throne of the Netherlands at the age of 10. Education In April 1950, Princess Beatrix entered the Incrementum, a part of Baarnsch Lyceum, where, in 1956, she passed her school-graduation examinations in the subjects of arts and classics. 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. The same year, at Leiden University her university studies began. In her first years at the university, she studied 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 for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, international affairs, international law, history and [[European Union|European law. The Princess also visited various European and international organizations in Geneva, Strasbourg, Paris, and Brussels. She was also an active member of the VVSL (Female Union for Students in Leiden), now called L.S.V.Minerva. 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 Her appearance on the political scene was almost immediately marked by controversy. In 1965, Princess Beatrix became engaged to the German aristocrat Claus von Amsberg, a diplomat working for the German Foreign Office. Her marriage to him caused a massive protest during the wedding day in Amsterdam on March 10 1966. Prince Claus had served in the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht and was, therefore, associated by a part of the Dutch with German Nazism. Protests included the memorable slogan "Geef mijn fiets terug" (Give me back my bicycle), 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 causing a violent street battle with the police. As time went on, however, Prince 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 April 30 1980, during the investiture (sovereigns of the Netherlands are not crowned as such) of 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, using the also memorable slogan "Geen woning; geen Kroning" (No house; no coronation). Clashes with the police and security forces turned brutal and violent. The latter event is reflected in contemporary Dutch literature in the books of A.F.Th. van der Heijden. Queen of the Netherlands On April 30 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. This also made her son crown prince, the first in Dutch history since 1884. She approaches her role as queen with more formality than Queen Juliana, and many admire her professionalism. While the monarchy remains popular, in recent years some members of the Dutch media have openly criticized the royal family. Journalists have also published "tabloid" stories, similar to the stories that have covered the British House of Windsor for decades. Some Dutch subjects view 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. On 6 October 2002, the Queen's husband, Prince Claus 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. 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 policy 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, an honor the Queen does not usually accept. Her mother and grand-mother had also received honorary doctorates from Leiden. In her acceptance speech, she reflected on the monarchy and her own 25 years as queen. On 29 April and 30 April 2005, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary of her reign). She was interviewed on Dutch television, was offered a concert on Dam Square in Amsterdam, and a celebration took place in The Hague, the country's seat of government. It is not known if Beatrix will follow the example of her mother and grandmother and abdicate. Some people close to her have stated that she has never seriously talked about abdication. Beatrix is an honorary member of the Club of Rome and a member the Bilderberg Group. In 1998, with King Juan Carlos of Spain Beatrix took part in ceremonies of reconciliation between their two nations "to bury memories of old political rivalries and religious divisions" dating back to the period when the Dutch were subject to Spanish rule, which ended in 1649. Beatrix has a weekly audience with the Prime Minister, which he is said to regard as a "two-way consultative process." The Council of State, of which she is President, has a constitutional duty to advise the government. She understands her role as to "be consulted, to warn and to encourage." She is said to be diligent in reading her briefs and in scrutinizing proposed legislation. She also keeps in close contact with the leaders of local governance at city level. Personal wealth Popular myth had for long stated that the queens of the Netherlands were the richest women in the world. Even in the 2005 Forbes website report, the queen's family wealth was estimated at $4.7 billion. Queen Juliana however had sold the remaining royal palaces and had put the cultural assets (paintings, antiques, books, etc.) into non-personal trusts. When the inheritance of Juliana was revealed in 2004 it was a 'mere' $240 million, which the queen had to share with her co-heirs. Since 2006, the queen and her family are no longer included in the Forbes list. The personal assets of the queen include several estates, houses and a shares-portfolio. Hindley says that "nothing approaching the personal wealth" of the Queen "is possible" but it has been estimated at approximately 5 billion US dollars. The royal palaces are property of the Dutch state and given in use to the reigning monarch; however, should the monarchy be disbanded, the property would be returned to the royal family. While the House of Orange-Nassau possesses a large amount of personal belongings, items such as paintings, historical artifacts and jewelry are usually associated with the performance of royal duties and/or decoration of royal residences. As such, these items have a cultural significance beyond that of simple artworks and jewelry, and have therefore been placed in the hands of trusts: the House of Orange-Nassau Archives Trust and the House of Orange-Nassau Historic Collections Trust. Part of the collection is on permanent loan to Het Loo Palace Museum in Apeldoorn and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The regalia (crown, orb and scepter, Sword of State, royal banner, and ermine mantle) have been placed in the Crown Property Trust. The trust also holds the items used on ceremonial occasions, such as the carriages, table silver, and dinner services. Placing these goods in the hands of a trust ensures that they will remain at the disposal of the monarch in perpetuity. The Royal Archives house the personal archives of the royal family. This includes books, photographs, and artworks, as well as the books of the House of Orange-Nassau and the music library. The library was begun in 1813, following the return of the Orange-Nassaus to the Netherlands. King William I allowed the Stadtholder's library to remain part of the Royal Library in The Hague. The library houses a collection of some 70,000 books, journals and brochures. The music library has 6,000 scores, going back to the mid-1700s. Expenditure on the Royal House is governed by or pursuant to the Royal House Finances Act (1972). There are three categories of expenditure: allowances paid to the Queen, the Princes of Orange and Princess Máxima, totaling some €5.6 million in 2006. Official expenses are incurred in the performance of official duties and are included in the budget of the most relevant ministry. They will total some €22.5 million in 2006. Other expenses relate to the management of the royal household. Under the Royal House Finances Act, they are not included in the budget of the royal household. They will total some €71.7 million in 2006. Children The queen and her late husband, Prince Claus, have three sons: Prince Willem-Alexander, The Prince of Orange and his mother's heir apparent (born 1967) Prince Friso (born 1968) Prince Constantijn (born 1969) Grandchildren Queen Beatrix and her late husband, Prince Claus, have eight grandchildren: Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, second in line to the throne, after her father Princess Alexia of the Netherlands Princess Ariane of the Netherlands Countess Luana of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Titles, Styles, Honors and Arms Titles and Styles Queen 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 (now in Germany), Vianden (now in Luxembourg), Diez and Spiegelberg (both now in Germany), Buren, Leerdam, and Culemborg Viscount of Antwerp (now in Belgium) Baron of Breda, Diest (now in Belgium), Beilstein (now in Germany), the town of Grave and the lands of Cuijk, IJsselstein, Cranendonck, Eindhoven, Liesveld, Herstal (now in Belgium), Warneton, Arlay and Nozeroy (both now in France) Hereditary Lord and Seigneur of Ameland Lord of Besançon (now in France), Borculo, Bredevoort, Bütgenbach (now in Belgium), Clundert, Daasburg, Geertruidenberg, Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe, 't Loo, Lichtenvoorde, Montfoort, Naaldwijk, Niervaart, Polanen, Steenbergen, Sint-Maartensdijk, Sankt Vith (now in Belgium), Soest, Ter Eem, Turnhout (now in Belgium), Willemstad, and Zevenbergen. The queen signs official documents "Beatrix" and is addressed as "Your Majesty" (Dutch: "Uwe Majesteit"). Queen Beatrix's mother, Queen Juliana, frowned upon this title. She preferred to be addressed as "Mevrouw", Dutch for "Madam." Queen Beatrix re-introduced the Royal Style of Majesty when addressing her. Honors Queen Beatrix is Grand Master of the Military Order of William (Militaire Willemsorde) and the other Dutch orders of merit. She is also a supernumary member of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Dame of the Order of the Elephant (Elefantordenen) and has received numerous other medals and decorations. Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba, is named after Her Majesty. Her University of Leiden honorary doctorate was awarded in 2005 for her commitment to democracy and freedom and "the responsibilities that go with it." Legacy Beatrix's legacy is closely linked with that of her great-great grandmother's, who acted as regent, with her grandmother's and with her mother's, Juliana. These women served as heads of state of the Netherlands from the end of the nineteenth century into the beginning of the twenty-first century, a unique achievement. They oversaw their nation's loss of its empire, gave moral leadership through the Great Depression, World War I and World War II and helped to shape the direction that Holland has taken since the end of the last world war. Some Dutch are "uneasy about the extent of the influence Beatrix exerts behind the scenes" but like her mother and grandmother she has accepted the role of constitutional monarch and has not tried to interfere politically. Her grandmother's passion for freedom and her mother's for social welfare found expression in Beatrix's own commitments. In 1996, she toured South Africa on a state visit. Both Beatrix and her husband have received the Order of Good Hope from South Africa, the nation's highest honor. In 1999, Nelson Mandela visited Amsterdam and at a Banquet paid tribute not only to Beatrix but to her mother and grandmother and to the Dutch people as a whole for being in "the forefront of the world campaign to isolate the apartheid regime." He praised Beatrix for her "commitment to a peaceful and equitable world." It is no accident that the International Court of Justice and its chambers, the Peace Palace, are housed in the Dutch capital. Speaking on Christmas Day, 2001 Beatrix stressed that "Justice is everywhere recognized as the basis of human society." that "Solidarity is the universally accepted basis of coexistence" and called on all people to take personal responsibility to find non-violent ways of resolving disputes. "Desire for vengeance," she said, "against deeds of hatred offers no solution." "An eye for an eye makes the world blind" but "if we wish to choose the other path, we will have to search for ways to break the spiral of animosity." The religions of the world, she said, all respect the sanctity of life but religions are not immune from "false preaching." When "the common good is desecrated and human rights are defiled, one must lay down clear limits." "To fight evil," the Queen challenged, "one must also recognize one's own responsibility. The values for which we stand must be expressed in the way we think of, and how we deal with, our fellow humans." Ancestry Patrilineal descent Beatrix's patriline is the line from which she is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that if Beatrix were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Lippe, as all her male-line ancestors have been of that house. House of Lippe (claimed descent from Saxon kings) Hermann I of Lippe, 1071 - 1126 Hermann II of Lippe, 1119 - 1160 Bernhard II of Lippe, 1151 - 1224 Hermann III of Lippe, 1175 - 1229 Bernhard III of Lippe, 1197 - 1265 Bernhard IV of Lippe, 1240 - 1275 Simon I of Lippe, d. 1344 Otto of Lippe, d. 1360 Simon III of Lippe, d. 1410 Bernhard VI of Lippe, 1366 - 1415 Simon IV of Lippe, 1404 - 1429 Bernhard VII of Lippe, 1429 - 1511 Simon V, Count of Lippe, 1471 - 1536 Bernhard VIII, Count of Lippe, 1527 - 1563 Simon VI, Count of Lippe, 1554 - 1613 Simon VII, Count of Lippe-Detmold, 1587 - 1627 Jobst Herman, Count of Lippe-Sternberg, 1625 - 1678 Rudolf Ferdinand, Count of Lippe-Sternberg, 1671 - 1726 Friedrich, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1705 - 1781 Karl of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1735 - 1810 (Wilhelm) Ernst of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1777 - 1840 Julius Peter, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1812 - 1884 Count Ernst of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1842 - 1904 Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1872 - 1934 Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, 1911 - 2004 Beatrix of the Netherlands, 1938 - 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) House of Orange-Nassau Cadet Branch of the House of Lippe Born: 31 January 1938;  Regnal Titles Preceded by: Queen Juliana Queen of the Netherlands 1980–present Incumbent Designated heir: Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange Dutch royalty Preceded by: Princess Juliana later became Queen Juliana Heir to the Dutch throne as heiress presumptive 1948–1980 Succeeded by: Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange British royalty Preceded by: Huberta Deuse Line of succession to the British throne Succeeded by: Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands Notes References ISBN links support NWE through referral fees Blom, J.C.H. and Emiel Lamberts. 1998. History of the Low Countries. New York, NY: Berghahn Books. ISBN 9781571810847. Hindley, Geoffrey. 2000. The royal families of Europe. New York, NY: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 9780786708284. Hoffman, William. 1979. Queen Juliana: the story of the richest woman in the world. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 9780151465316. Hooker, Mark T. 1999. The history of Holland. The Greenwood histories of the modern nations. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313306587. Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix. 1992. A transatlantic friendship: addresses. Roosevelt Study Center publications, no. 12. Middelburg [Netherlands]: Roosevelt Study Center. ISBN 9789071654107 External links Queen Beatrix: Official website. Retrieved August 18, 2008. Information on Counts of Lippe. Retrieved August 18, 2008. Further information on House of Lippe. Retrieved August 18, 2008. 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