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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld was Prince of the Netherlands from 6 September 1948 to 30 April 1980 as the husband of Queen Juliana. They had four daughters together, including Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
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culture · Prince consort of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980 · activist · conservationist · lobbyist · aircraft pilot · photographer · military officer · military commander · painter · amateur photographer · prince consort · also Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Bernhard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld, B. van Lippe Biesterfeld, Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard, Prince Bernhard, Prince Consort of the Netherlands, Bernhard, Prince Consort of the Netherlands
Born 29 June 1911 · Died 1 December 2004 · Q57304
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Bernard was obviously a free spirited chap, who independently went about his business. But he was still very much a family man. I got the feeling he was the only one that was seeing things were getting completely out of hand and tried to salvage the situation as much as he could.
Awarded Zilveren Anjer (1990).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
“Bernard was obviously a free spirited chap, who independently went about his business. But he was still very much a family man. I got the feeling he was the only one that was seeing things were getting completely out of hand and tried to salvage the situation as much as he could.”
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Years after the death, that Bernhard was member of the NSDAP, and that the Koninklijk Huisarchief (Royal House Archive) does still have Bernhard's original party membership card in his file
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Fact and fiction of the life of Bernhard was portrayed in a Dutch television series
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
The report of the "three wise men" was made public
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Died 2004-12-01.
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Why he changed sides and started fighting against his homeland Germany, Bernhard claimed that he did not believe that Hitler and his regime had no plans to invade the Netherlands
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
His life was endangered again when he suffered neurological complications and continued breathing problems
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
When he had a prostate swelling and in 1999 when he suffered difficulties breathing and talking
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Nelson Mandela called upon the Kumleben Commission to investigate, among other things, the role of the WWF in apartheid-South Africa
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
The Prince had a colon tumour removed and suffered severe complications due to respiratory distress
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Newspapers reported that WWF was acting as a front for an operation involving people of military and intelligence background and under the leadership or coordination of Prince Bernhard, who had hired KAS International or
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Zilveren Anjer (1990).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
However, Charles de Haes, Director-General of the WWF, transferred £500,000 back to Bernhard, for what De Haes called a private project
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard and Princess Juliana sold two paintings from their personal collection to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
For having secretly promoted the sale of their airplanes and of Northrop's for money, and was degraded from all his military functions with a lifelong ban on wearing any military uniform
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
When the press reported that Prince Bernhard had accepted a US$1
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1972).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Along with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and other associates, he established the WWF's financial endowment "The 1001: A Nature Trust"
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1969).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Bernhard was awarded the Grand Cross (Special Class) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Nansen Refugee Award (1967).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Career landmark: president (1961–1976).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
For having leaked confidential information to the international press
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Was a co-founder of the international Bilderberg Group, which has met annually since then to discuss corporate globalisation and other issues concerning Europe and North America
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Career landmark: chairperson (1954–1976).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Where they discussed the idea with Paul Rijkens of Unilever, Paul van Zeeland, one of the founders of the EU and advisor to NATO and the Belgian government, retired British Army General Colin Gubbins of special military
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Attempted to oust the young government of the newly founded Republic of Indonesia and place himself to lead the islands as viceroy similar to Lord Mountbatten's role in British India
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
The Netherlands had already officially recognised its former colony as an independent nation
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
To treat an eye illness of their youngest daughter, Princess Christina (then still called Marijke)
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Career landmark: Consort of the Netherlands (1948–1980).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1946).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Awarded Knight Grand Officer of the Order of William (1946).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Won: Czechoslovakia with Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit (1939–1945).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Won: Luxembourg with Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Lion and the Sun (1939–1945).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Included the condition that only Allied units would directly carry out the disarming of German troops in the Netherlands
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Career landmark: Inspector-General of the Armed Forces (1945–1976).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Also received a promotion to Honorary Air Commodore
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard was given the honorary rank of wing commander in the Royal Air Force
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Won: Greece with Knight Grand Cross of the Order of George I (1940).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Flight Lieutenant Murray Payne gave the prince instruction in flying a Spitfire
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Married Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, and was immediately given the title Prince of the Netherlands with the style of Royal Highness
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
When he married princess Juliana of the Netherlands
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
To the board of directors at IG Farben's Paris office
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
There was a run on party membership among opportunists
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
It had already sponsored Hitler's election campaigns
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Studied at Arndt-Gymnasium Dahlem (1926–1929).
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
His uncle Leopold IV as reigning Prince raised him and his mother to the rank of Prince and Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld, thereby retroactively according his parents' marriage dynastic status
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Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Born 1911-06-29.
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