When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on 6 February 1952, she joined a large group of European rulers. In this series, Royal Central looks at the men and women who were ruling on the continent as the longest reign in modern European history got under way.
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
One of only two reigning women at the time of Queen Elizabeth IIās accession, Queen Juliana was a much-loved and formidable monarch in the Netherlands.
Born in 1909 as the only child of Queen Wilhelmina, Juliana spent her early years in the Netherlands, learning and preparing for her eventual role as queen. Upon her 18th birthday, she took her place on the Council of State and could rule if necessary. She studied a myriad of subjects at university, including sociology, economics and the history of religion, ultimately graduating from the University of Leiden with a degree in international law.
Juliana married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1937. During the Second World War, Juliana and her daughters, Beatrix and Irene, were evacuated to Canada. Her third daughter, Margriet, was born in Canada in 1943; and the young family spent the war years there. Her husband remained behind in Europe alongside his mother-in-law, to support a government-in-exile from the United Kingdom. Following the war, Juliana gave birth to her fourth and final child, Christina.
As her motherās health began to decline in the late ā40s, Juliana began undertaking more duties, and by 1947 had been declared regent for Wilhelmina. She abdicated in favour of her daughter on 4 September 1948.
At Queen Elizabeth IIās coronation, Juliana was represented by her husband. Queen Elizabeth II paid one state visit to the Netherlands during Julianaās reign, from 25ā27 March 1958; she welcomed Juliana and Bernhard for a state visit to the United Kingdom from 11ā15 April 1972.
Julianaās reign was marked by controversial moments, but she maintained a personal popularity that endeared her to the Dutch public. Her husband, Prince Bernhard, had several affairs and children from those affairs; her daughter Irene, married without government approval; her heir, Beatrix, married a German diplomat who had been a member of the Hitler Youth.
The Dutch monarchs have traditionally abdicated their thrones, which Queen Juliana did on 30 April 1980 in favour of her eldest daughter, who reigned as Queen Beatrix until 30 April 2013.
Julianaās later years were marked by ill health and reports of dementia; and she was later placed under 24-hour care. She passed away at the age of 91 in 2004, the longest-lived former reigning monarch in the world.
Elizabeth II has seen three Monarchs in the Netherlands during her 70 year reign: Queen Juliana, Queen Beatrix (1980 – 2013) and King Willem-Alexander, who took the throne in 2013.
