Birthday Celebrations for Princess Margriet and Queen Beatrix

Special celebrations are planned for the 70th birthday of Queen Beatrix (born January 31, 1938) and the 65th birthday of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Tomorrow, Margriet and her family will attend a unique ballet performance danced by the Introdans and Introdans Ensemble for Youth in honour of her birthday at the Orpheus in Apeldoorn. On February 1st, she and Queen Beatrix will continue celebrating their birthdays with an appearance at the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam to watch a performance of music and dance by students of the Netherlands conservatories and schools for drama and the arts.

Margriet Francisca, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess of Lippe-Biesterveld was born on January 19, 1943 at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in Canada. Though the delivery room has been converted into an office, a plaque on the wall still denotes her birthplace. The significance of her birth was the Canadian government sanctioned the birthing room as temporary Dutch territory with the following special provision: “Any place in Canada within which Her Royal Highness the Princess Juliana of the Netherlands may be confined shall, for the period of the lying-in and to the extent of actual occupation for such purpose, be extra-territorial, and for such purpose Her Royal Highness the Princess Juliana and any child that may be born shall be accorded immunity from criminal, civil and military jurisdiction, whether Dominion or Provincial.” In the aftermath of the Second World War, Margriet’s family returned to the Netherlands when she was two years old.

Princess Margriet married Pieter van Vollenhoven on January 10, 1967 and gave birth to four sons: Prince Maurits, Prince Bernhard, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. Currently, she and Pieter have seven grandchildren: Anna, Lucas, Felicia, Isabella, Samuel, Emma and Magali. Their daughter-in-law, Princess Annette (wife of Prince Bernhard), is due to give them their eight grandchild in the spring.

Among her many duties officiated to her, Princess Margriet is Vice-Chair of the Netherlands Red Cross, a patron of the National Union of Volunteers, the New York-based Netherland-America Foundation, and the Netherlands American Amity Trust. Avocationally, she loves reading, theatre, riding, skating, skiing and walking.

In lieu of the 65th birthday of Princess Margriet, the Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, extended her best wishes with the following statement.

My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, our daughter, Marie-Eden, and I join with all Canadians in sending our very best wishes to Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on the occasion of her 65th birthday.

Canada and the Netherlands have long shared a close relationship, which has been strengthened by Princess Margriet's personal ties to Canada. Since her birth in Ottawa during the Second World War, the Princess has held a special place in the hearts of Canadians.

Her Royal Highness' work on behalf of her country is exemplary and so is her dedication to numerous humanitarian causes.

Every spring, thousands of tulip bulbs sent from the Netherlands blossom throughout the national capital. This special gift commemorates Canada's role in the liberation of the Dutch people, and is symbolic of the personal friendship Canada shares with the Princess and her fellow citizens.

It is a pleasure to extend to Princess Margriet my hope for a wonderful birthday celebration with family and friends.

Michaelle Jean

For those wishing to extend birthday salutations to Princess Margriet (sorry, it is in Dutch only), visit the Dutch Royal House website.

Photos: RVD