How so incredibly sad.I guess it was for the best though and 93 years is a long time to live. Just thinking about all of the things that he was able to experience in his lifetime blows my mind.
__________________
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. ~ Les Brown
Very sad news.Sorry for Queen Beatrix.She has lost all her parents in one year.They can not have happy time for Christmas now and also for her Silver Jubilee.
__________________
"God save our Gracious Queen,
Long live our Noble Queen,
God save The Queen"
God save Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
have any plans to intives Royal Family for funeral of Prince Bernhard who remind of him? includes Crown Prince and Crown Princess, HM King and HM Queen, Earl and Countess, Duke and Duchess, and lots of more and also Prince and Princess.
Dutch Prince Bernard, one of the most popular figures in the Royal Family, has died at age of 93.
Bernard, the father of the Netherlands's sitting monarch, Queen Beatrix, has suffering from Cancer.
He died late on Wednesday after being moved to the Utrecht University Medical Hospital when his condition worsened.
The German-born Prince, who become the Consort of the late Queen Juliana, was a pilot with the allied forces fighting against Germany in World War 2.
The Royal House said that, in accordance with his wishes, no efforts had been made to revive the Prince.
Bernhard's service during war and his help rebuliding the nation after the Nazi occupation earned him the respect of his adopted country.
Dapper Image
"Prince Bernard was a man who enjoyed life, a vital man who remained active until a very old age," Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said in a nationally televised address.
"He devoted himself to issues and people close to his heart."
But Prince Bernhard's image suffered in 1976, when he accepted the findings of a Dutch parliamentary comminson that he had received improper commissions from US aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed.
Beyhond his country he seen as a jet-setting and charismatic ambrassador for the Dutch during post-war reconstruction.
In 1961 he helped create the World Wildlife Fund, becoming its first president.
He is also credited with founding the Bilderberg group - a secretive annual discussion forum for prominent politicians and thinkers.
Queen Juliana, who abdicated in favour of her daughter in 1980, died in March this year.
My condolences go to the Dutch Royal Family and the people close to Prince Bernhard.
It's sad loosing a loved one, but the only thing that can confort his family is that he's not in pain anymore.
I think it would have been great if Prince Claus, Queen Juliana, and Prince Bernhard would have had the chance to be alive in 2005 to celebrate Queen Beatrix's 25th year on the throne.
Location: East of the sun and west of the moon, United States
Posts: 6,408
Another article from the BBC:
As consort to former Dutch Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Prince Bernhard was a popular figure, despite his involvement in the infamous Lockheed bribery scandal of the mid-1970s.
Prince Bernhard of Lippe Biesterfeld was German by birth, but became a naturalised Dutchman shortly before his marriage, in 1937, to the heir to the Dutch throne.
The young German was introduced to his future wife during 1935, before the romance reportedly developed on skiing jaunts to Switzerland.
When the Nazis tried to make political capital from the wedding, Queen Wilhelmina asserted, "This is the marriage of my daughter to the man she loves...not the marriage of the Netherlands to Germany."
Under scrutiny
When the Germans invaded the Low Countries in 1940, Prince Bernhard escorted the Royal Family to safety in England, but returned himself to serve with what remained of the Dutch army.
And during the closing phase of the war, the prince returned to Europe to organise the Dutch forces of resistance and prepare the way for the Canadian liberators.
When Princess Juliana succeeded to the throne in 1948, Bernhard played his part in the public life of his adopted nation, promoting Dutch trade and industry, especially abroad.
As inspector-general to the Dutch armed forces, he was a member of various services advisory councils.
Early in 1976, this side of his activities came under scrutiny after evidence was given to a United States Senate sub-committee that a "high Dutch official" had received bribes from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in connection with the sale of military aircraft to Holland 15 years earlier.
'Open to dishonourable requests'
A subsequent Dutch government inquiry found that the Prince had acted "in a completely unacceptable manner" in his relations with Lockheed.
He had shown himself to be open to dishonourable requests and offers, and had allowed himself to be tempted to take initiatives which were bound to place him and Dutch policy in a dubious light.
To avoid a constitutional crisis after Queen Juliana had threatened to abdicate as a result of the findings, Prince Bernhard faced no criminal proceedings.
In the wake of the scandal, Prince Bernhard resigned from all his armed forces functions, and also gave up most of his business activities. Even so, Dutch exporters selected him for their 1977 man-of-the-year award.
In the meantime, the Prince had established a reputation as an accomplished horseman, and often competed in riding and jumping events at international shows.
Bilderberg conference
Best known outside his country for his becoming the first president of the World Wildlife Fund in 1961, Bernhard raised $10m in two years by running a club subscription scheme among his friends.
His work for the organisation continued, after the Lockheed scandal forced his resignation from the presidency.
The prince was also instrumental in setting up the annual Bilderberg conference, named after the Bilderberg Hotel in Oosterbeek, Holland.
The conference was designed for high-powered policy makers to have "regular discussions to help create a better understanding of the complex forces affecting western nations".
It is credited with prompting the establishment of the European Community.
A lifelong fan of fast cars, for his 88th birthday, Prince Bernhard bought himself a present of a 200 mph Ferrari, despite the fact that his age and infirmity precluded him from driving it himself.
As a Knight of the Royal Swedish Order of the Seraphim, Prince Bernhard's shield has or will be mounted in the Riddarholmskyrkan. The traditional Seraphim toll from the belltower of the church will also take place on the day of the funeral. The Royal Court has also announced that the flag at the Royal Palace of Stockholm will be flying at half mast in the day of the funeral.
It seems Prince Bernhard wished a military funeral. He will wear the uniform of General of the Dutch Royal Air Force. The Royal Hearse will not be used, instead that the Prince will be carried on a gun-carriage.
Linear Mode
