【转帖】Prince Bernhard died (the father of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands)

1 December 2004

AMSTERDAM — Prince Bernhard, the father of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, has died. The 93-year-old prince was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

Dutch television and radio stations broke with regular programmes at 9.30pm on Wednesday evening to announce Prince Bernhard's death. The time of death was not immediately known.

Commercial station SBS 6 interrupted its programming to play the Dutch national anthem and show a portrait of the prince before commencing its report of the prince's death.

Earlier in the evening, the Government Information Service (RVD) said on
Wednesday that Prince Bernhard's condition was gradually deteriorating. He was admitted to the UMC hospital in Utrecht in the evening because his condition worsened.

He had been receiving visits from family members at his home in the last few days.

The RVD confirmed the prince's death in a short statement shortly after 9.30pm. It said he was rushed to hospital due to his worsening condition. But in consultation with his doctors, the prince asked that that no further medical measures be taken. "His wishes were respected," the RVD said.said.

Prince Bernhard — the husband of the late Queen Juliana who died on 20 March 2004 — had been suffering shortness of breath in recent weeks. He had fluid in his chest cavity due to the spread of an inoperable tumour and was also been diagnosed with an intestinal tumour.

The German-born prince met the then Princess Juliana in 1936 during the Winter Olympics in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, and their engagement was announced seven months later. They were married on 7 January 1937.

The couple's first daughter, Queen Beatrix, took the Dutch throne when her mother abdicated in 1980. The royal couple also had three other daughters: Irene, Margriet and Christina.

Upon her death in March of this year, Queen Juliana, 94, was interred in the royal family tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft. Despite initial concerns about his health, Prince Bernhard was fit enough to attend the funeral.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

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2 December 2004

AMSTERDAM — Flags were flying at half-mast on government buildings on Thursday following the death of Prince Bernhard, whose body is expected to be interred in the royal family tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft on 11 December.

Bernhard died at 6.50pm at the UMC hospital in Utrecht on Wednesday, surrounded by three of his four daughters, Queen Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Magriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven.

The news comes after initial speculation that Bernhard was alone at the time of his death. Nevertheless, it is not yet known if the 93-year-old prince's fourth daughter, Princess Christina, was also by his side.

The Government Information Service RVD said Bernhard died of a range of complaints and, despite the fact it had warned Monday that his health was gradually deteriorating, the prince's death came somewhat as a surprise.

He is believed to have died due to the build-up of pulmonary fluid, which compressed his lungs and made it extremely difficult to breathe. The complaint was caused by the spread of a malignant tumour.

Bernhard had also been diagnosed with intestinal cancer and was said to be in great pain. The RVD had revealed two weeks ago that the prince was incurably sick and he received a swathe of family visitors in the days prior to his death.

The prince's body was taken back to Soestdijk Palace at about 10pm on Wednesday. Bernhard lived at Soestdijk for 67 years with the late Queen Juliana, who died on 20 March 2004 and was interred in Delft.

Prince Bernhard's body will be later transferred to Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, the working palace of Queen Beatrix. It is expected that the public will be able to pay their final respects to Bernhard in The Hague.

Bernhard will probably be interred in the royal family tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft on Saturday 11 December.

All Dutch newspapers focused on Bernhard's death on Thursday, with coverage ranging from the sober to the sentimental. Photo spreads were common, editorials explored his legacy, and Bernhard's extensive medical history was also given attention.

The RVD has issued mourning instructions and all flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast without pennant for the coming period, except for Sunday.

Flags will also be at half-mast on Tuesday, the first birthday of Princess Amalia, the daughter of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima. Amalia is second in line to the Dutch throne behind her father.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has also issued a special 'noise' instruction, allowing only for the peeling of tower bells on the day of Bernhard's funeral. An exception will be made for traditional bell tolling in certain regions.

Official celebratory government events will be postponed until after the funeral and other events will be amended to reflect the sombre mood.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

But in consultation with his doctors, the prince asked that that no further medical measures be taken. "His wishes were respected," the RVD said.said.

虽然跟我们没多大关系,但是死了个人总感觉不爽,愿所有皇室成员节哀吧.不过,我今天坐地铁发现荷兰人都和平常没啥两样,唉!连他们都不关心,我们操那心干啥???