King Bernhard of the Netherlands
| HM The King of the Netherlands | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Titles | King of the Netherlands |
| Reign | 28 June 2004 - 12 August 2013
Regency 24 February 2012 - 12 August 2013 |
| Coronation | 28 June 2004 |
| Predecessor | Beatrix |
| Successor | Casimir |
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 27 April 1957
Lage Vuursche, the Netherlands |
| Died | 12 August 2013 (aged 56)
the Hague, the Netherlands |
| Spouse | Princess Beatrice Maria of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
(m. 1982; d. 2013) |
| Issue | Casimir
Prince Frederick |
| Name | Bernhard Claus Friso Constantine |
| House | Orange-Nassau |
| Father | Claus von Amsberg |
| Mother | Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands |
| Religion | Calvinist |
King Bernhard of the Netherlands (born Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands 27 April 1957 - 12 August 2013) was the King of the Netherlands from 2004 until his death in 2013. He was also a member of the Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Grand Ducal Family as the brother-in-law of Michael, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
Life[edit | edit source]
Bernhard was born the only child of Claus von Amsberg and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
Bernhard became heir to the Dutch throne after the abdication of his grandmother in 1980.
On 17 February 2012, Bernhard was buried under an avalanche in Lech, Austria while on holiday. Several days later, it was announced that the king had suffered extensive brain damage while being buried and after undergoing almost an hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. His son and heir, Casimir, took over as regent on 24 February 2012. Bernhard later progressed to a minimally conscious state, but died on 12 August 2013 from complications from the accident. Bernhard was the first Dutch monarch to die on the throne since King Willem III of the Netherlands in 1890.
Marriage and Issue[edit | edit source]
On 5 November 1982, Bernhard married Princess Beatrice Maria of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. The couple had five children, Casimir, Frederick, Marianne, Willem, and Johan.
| Photo | Name | Birth | Death | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Casimir | 20 August 1983 | Princess Olga of Mecklenburg (m. 2011); has issue | |
 |
Prince Frederick | 20 June 1984 | Josina von Bussche-Ippenburg (m. 2016); has issue | |
 |
Maria Borisovna, Tsarevna of Russia | 1 June 1986 | George Mikhailovich, Tsarevich of Russia (m. 2021); has issue | |
 |
Prince Willem | 29 July 1990 | Unmarried and without issue | |
 |
Prince Johan | 29 July 1990 | Unmarried and without issue |
Titles and Honours[edit | edit source]
- 1957-1980 Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
- 1980-2004 Bernhard, Prince of Orange
- 2004-2013 Bernhard, King of the Netherlands