Dutch royal Christmas baby turns 55

On 25 December 1969, the Dutch Royal Family added a Christmas baby to their ranks.

Prince Bernhard was born on Christmas Day to Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven as their second son. He has one older brother, Prince Maurits, and two younger brothers, Princes Pieter-Christiaan and Floris.

He grew up in the Netherlands and at birth was a member of the Dutch Royal House. Prior to his cousin, Willem-Alexander’s accession to the throne in 2013, Bernhard was 11th in the line of succession. He lost his place in the Royal House when Willem-Alexander took the throne but retained his place in the wider Royal Family.

Prince Bernhard with his family in 1986. By Rob Bogaerts / Anefo – http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ad54c7ec-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

The Prince was educated in the Netherlands and spent his university years in Washington D.C. where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in marketing and market research from Groningen University. By 1995, he had earned a doctorate from the Dutch university.

Prince Bernhard does not officially represent the Royal Family and is self-employed. He has started two companies, Ritzen Koeriers and Chapman Andretti Partners. While he is no longer associated with the former, he still works with Chapman Andretti Partners.

Princess Margriet, Pieter van Vollenhoven, their children, and their grandchildren in 2013. RVD, foto: Frank van Beek

After being diagnosed and recovering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013, Bernhard created the Lymph & Co foundation that helps raise money for lymphoma research.

The grandson of Queen Juliana met Annette Sekrève while at Groningen and they married in 2000. They have three children: Isabella, Samuel and Benjamin; none of the children have titles.

He and his family live in Amsterdam.