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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Happy birthday Royal Highness Princess Beatrix