Netherlands | 1980 | 5 Cent | Queen Juliana

 




Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (1909–2004)


Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina, born April 30, 1909, in The Hague, was queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980. The only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, she studied law at the University of Leiden and became involved in social welfare initiatives during the economic depression.

She married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1937 and had four daughters: Beatrix, Irene, Margriet, and Christina. During World War II, Juliana lived in exile in Ottawa while her husband stayed with the Dutch government in London. She returned in 1945 and served as regent during her mother’s illness before becoming queen on September 6, 1948. She oversaw Indonesia’s independence in 1949.

Juliana faced public controversies, including the employment of a faith healer for her blind daughter Christina, Princess Irene’s politically sensitive marriage, Princess Beatrix’s marriage, and Prince Bernhard’s involvement in the Lockheed scandal. Despite these challenges, she remained highly popular due to her modesty, social welfare work, and approachable lifestyle.

She abdicated in favor of her daughter Beatrix on April 30, 1980, but remained active in public life until the late 1990s. Juliana passed away on March 20, 2004, in Baarn.


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