Prince Bernhard Passes Away: 1 December 2004

[Lyonnaise]

Veterans and the public pay their respects at the gates of Palace Soestdijk, in Soest, 35 kilometers east of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday Dec. 2, 2004, after it was announced that Prince Bernhard had passed away. Bernhard suffered from a cancerous tumor in his lungs. Bernhards wife, the former Queen Juliana, died earlier this year.

[Marengo]

The city of Delft is already worried about these veterans. They expect that a large number of them will turn up in Delft when their 'hero' is burried and it is cold here....
I realy feel for these veterans, they adored the prince (and he adored them), moving to see when, during a parade on liberationday these old man got out of their wheelchairs etc to 'march' in front of the prince and after that they went back into the weelchairs again. They always stood by him, and he did what he could to help them (it went a little like this: a veteran called Soestdijk Palace if he had a problem, for example, he did not get orthopedic shoes from the state which he needed because of the wounds he had during the war, the Prince called the Minister... and the minister arranged it -no doubt, after a fierce rebuke of the prince)

[ElisaR]

I am sad for his death, although I didn't really know him well.

I would only like remind you all that he had been one of the founders of WWF-World Wild Fund for Nature (of which I am a member). He was the first President of the organisation, from 1961 to 1976.
:(
(Link: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/who_w...presidents.cfm )


He was also president of FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) from 1954 to 1964. (Link: http://62.2.231.126/FEI/fei_show_news.lasso?vID=599 )


A man who worked a lot.

[susan alicia]

He is going to be buried with his favorite flower, a white carnation, in his hands

[xxLindaxx]

From the BRMB:
HRH Prince Bernhard has left Soestdijk Palace
for the very last time.


HM the Queen and Her sisters Princesses Irene,
Margriet and Christina,as well as Mr.Pieter van Vollenhoven, most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren have bit an emotional farewell from the Palace steps as the Princes coffin was driven to the front.

Except for Princess Christina's sons,Bernardo and Nicholas,who'll fly in later this week from the
States,all grandchildren and their spouses were
present,as well as Princess Amalia and Countess
Eloise.HRH was deeply loved by all of his Family
as was clearly shown by their emotions.Little
Countess Eloise waved goodbye.

All members of the Royal Household were lined up
to salute as well as 200 hundred veterans and 200
scouts.

HM,Her sisters and son in law Mr.Pieter accompany HRH at this moment to Noordeinde Palace.

After the Prince left the Palace grounds,the Princes Standard was lowered for the last time,and at that moment the Soestdijk Palace has ceased to be a Royal Residence as it is considered a Government building as of now.

Instead of the Standard the National flag is at half mast.



first pic:

[xxLindaxx]

Link for live broadcast:

http://www.omroep.nl/themakanaal/pla....html?bbview=1

[The Watcher]

Prince Bernhard leaves Palace Soestdijk for the last time.

First pictures

[purple_platinum]

i'm sorry to ask this, but who's the lady with long hair standing beside Princess Maxima?

[royal_sophietje]

It is Juliana Guillermo

[The Watcher]

More pictures of today

[The Watcher]

And more pictures

[The Watcher]

More pictures from www.anp-photo.com

[Alexandria]

Thanks for the pictures The Watcher.

I am really touched and moved by how visibly upset Maxima was in the one picture standing next to Juliana Guillermo; and also Maurits, Marilene and Pieter-Christiaan, where Maurits is waving goodbye.

[xxLindaxx]

more pics:
http://www.royalimages.nl/theme/theme.asp?themeid=449

[The Watcher]

And also some Polfoto-pictures, with very sad Q. Beatrix

[Gabriella]

Those pictures of Queen Beatrix really just make my heart break. That is one thing I have always admired about her. Even when she is so obviously devastated, she always wears her heart on her sleeve.

[sara1981]

its makes me cry i hates that my brat brother interruption my mother dont know who he is! and i told her about Queen Mother of Dutch died this years but my mother never knew about both! oh poor Queen Beatrix.

Sara Boyce

[pdas1201]

OMG, even I couldn't stop my tears looking at these pics... May God give them the strength to get thru this tough time..
I was also touched by the pic where Maxima is crying...she must have been close to Prince Bernhard.

[xxLindaxx]

More pictures:
http://fotosmulders.com/

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Very sorry for The Dutch Royals.They have lost their beloved mother,father,grandmother,grandfather,....Juliana and Bernard.Wish Prince Bernard in rest.