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The Netherlands

New photos revealed of Princess Beatrix for 80th birthday

Several new photographs were revealed yesterday by the Royal House of the Netherlands ahead of Princess Beatrix’s 80th birthday today. They were taken by Jeroen van der Meyde who has snapped many images of the Dutch Royal Family in the past.

The seven pictures were taken in the autumn of 2017 at Drakensteyn Castle in Lage Vuursche with one image featuring the former Queen of the Netherlands with her black labrador. Her Royal Highness has lived in Drakensteyn Castle since 2014.

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

Princess Beatrix will be celebrating turning 80-years-old privately today with family and friends. However, Saturday, 3 February she will celebrate with a party at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

Her younger sister, Princess Margriet also celebrated a milestone birthday when she turned 75 on 19 January with family and friends at the Orpheus Theatre in Apeldoorn. There she and her family took in a show by Introdans, a dance company of which she is the patron.

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

Princess Beatrix was born on 31 January 1938 in the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn to future Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard. She has three younger sisters: Princesses Irene (b. 1939), Margriet (b. 1943) and Christina (b. 1947).

She married the German diplomat Claus von Amsberg on 10 March 1966 in both a civil and religious ceremony. Their union would produce three sons: King Willem-Alexander (b. 1967), Prince Friso (1968-2013) and Prince Constantijn (b. 1969). Beatrix and Claus remained happily married until his death 6 October 2002.

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

Then Queen Beatrix announced her intent to abdicate on 28 January 2013. She would relinquish the throne precisely 33 years after ascending the throne upon the abdication of her mother, Juliana. The abdication and subsequent inauguration of Willem-Alexander took place on 30 April that same year. Her title then reverted to Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix.

The Princess still undertakes some engagements on behalf of the Dutch Royal Family.

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

This morning, three additional images were released, taken at the same time as the portraits of Her Royal Highness. These feature the Princess with her sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

© RVD Jeroen van der Meyde

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.

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